Derek Mason expects big things from Cortez Hankton in Athens. Despite the fact the former Vanderbilt receivers coach jumped ship to a division rival, Mason showered Hankton with praise during a recent speaking engagement.

Hankton spent three years working in Nashville under Mason following a six-year playing career in the NFL. Georgia added Hankton despite keeping last season’s receivers coach James Coley on staff.

Here’s what Mason had to say about his former receivers coach during a recent Atlanta speaking engagement.

“Cortez is phenomenal…,” Mason said, according to Jake Rowe of 247Sports. “…Cortez left Vanderbilt better than the way he found it. He recruited well. He coached well. His ability to get young men from the way they are to the way they need to be is why Georgia came and got him.”

If Coley does leave Athens in the near future, he declined an opportunity to become Jimbo Fisher’s first offensive coordinator at Texas A&M this offseason, it appears the Bulldogs will have a quality replacement already on staff.