Dominick Blaylock feeling like freshman-self after clutch catches against Missouri
The last few years haven’t been easy for Dominick Blaylock, but the Georgia wide receiver looked like his old self Saturday night against Missouri. After returning late last season from two torn ACLs, Blaylock is starting to make a bigger impact this season. He has seen action in all five games to date, upping his production in each.
Blaylock was held without a catch in the opener against Oregon, had one reception for seven yards versus Samford and hauled in a 19-yard pass in a win over South Carolina in the first three games. The last two though, it’s been multiple receptions each outing with two for 19 yards versus Kent State and three for 42 this past Saturday at Missouri. The first of those receptions helped keep a Georgia drive – one that led to the Bulldogs’ first point trailing 13-0 – alive on 3rd and 9. The final of them came with 5:15 left in the game and helped set up the going-ahead score by getting Georgia down to the Tiger 12-yard-line.
“It felt great to be on the field, first of all. Making some big catches and trying to help the team out in any way possible is awesome,” Blaylock said. “As of right now, everything is back to normal. I was feeling great out there. It feels back like it did freshman year.”
Kirby Smart and the Georgia coaches certainly love to hear that, especially with the need to develop depth at wide receiver. As a freshman, played in 12 of 13 games before tearing his ACL in the SEC Championship Game against LSU. Prior to that, he hauled in 18 passes for 310 yards and five touchdowns. So, if Georgia can get that kind of production out of Blaylock in 2022 alongside the rest of the receivers – Adonai Mitchell, Ladd McConkey, Kearis Jackson and company – it’ll only help get Georgia to where it wants to go this season.
“Dom has been there the whole season. I don’t think it’s an integration factor. He’s been really clutch, and what he does he does really well,” Smart said on Monday. “There are package plays for Dom and he does a nice job. His plays he made the other night were really clutch. A lot of the receivers made some. Marcus Rosemy-Jacksaint had some clutch plays and Arian (Smith) had the one catch. Getting him back and getting him some confidence is great, but we have to have some depth at that position and some guys make some plays at those positions.”
Georgia takes on Auburn this week, and last time Blaylock suited up against the Tigers, he hauled in a highlight reel 51-yard touchdown pass. He had another score later that season against Georgia Tech but has not gotten into the end zone yet post-injury. The Marietta, Ga. native described how he imagines it’ll feel when the moment finally comes again.
“It would be a great experience I guess,” Blaylock said. “It’s been since freshman year, but it would be a great experience. I’m just trying to help the team out in any ways possible.”
Kickoff for Saturday’s game between the Bulldogs and Tigers is set for 3:30 p.m. ET on CBS. It’ll be the 127th meeting in The Deep South’s Oldest Rivalry.
