Ladd McConkey named among CFB's top returning receivers per PFF
When Ladd McConkey elected to return to Georgia for another season, the Bulldogs retained the services of one of College Football’s top wideouts. At least that’s what Pro Football Focus’ metrics say.
The analytics-based site listed it top 10 players nationally at the position and McConkey, UGA’s second-leading receiver in 2022, came in at No. 9.
“Like his former quarterback Stetson Bennett, McConkey has an incredible underdog story. Coming out of high school in 2020, he was the No. 1,143 recruit and the 188th-best wide receiver, according to On3 Sports’ consensus ratings.
“This year, the redshirt sophomore was the seventh-most valuable receiver in the country, according to PFF’s wins above average metric. His 42 combined receiving first downs and touchdowns trailed only Malik Nabers among SEC wide receivers. He has also added 178 rushing yards over the past two seasons, which ranks fourth for Power Five wide receivers.”
The Bulldogs really spread the wealth in 2022 but McConkey was among the four players who put up great numbers. He 58 passes for 762 yards and seven scores on the year. He also ran it seven times for 134 yards and two more scores. That comes out to 896 yards of total offense on the season.
Among the non-quarterbacks, only Brock Bowers and Kenny McIntosh had more yardage. McIntosh piled up 1,333 total yards and 12 touchdowns. Bowers had 942 receiving yards and 109 rushing yards, putting him at 1,051 on the year with 10 total touchdowns.
McConkey currently ranks No. 25 all-time at Georgia in career receiving yards. Another season like 2022, however, and the North Murray High School product could find himself inside the top 10.
While lightly recruited and not the most physically imposing player on Georgia’s team, McConkey is one of the most respected according to Kirby Smart. The reason why is how the former three-star prospect goes about his business on the practice field.
According to Smart, who spoke about it on multiple occasions throughout the year, the coaches had to force McConkey to dial things back on the practice field. The staff had to limit his reps or McConkey would wear himself down over the course of the week.
When asked about it at Chick-Fil-A Peach Bowl media day, McConkey’s position coach knew exactly where Smart was coming from.
“Ladd is one of those dudes who can kind of go overboard in the sense of wanting to get all the reps and wanting to get every look and everything thing else,” McClendon told DawgsHQ. “That’s phenomenal and what I feel like makes him the player that he is. But sometimes you’ve got to make sure you save him from himself a little bit, tell him, ‘hey man, you’ve got that rep already.’ Like with anything else, you’d rather say “whoa” than “sic’em.”
