Ladd McConkey continues to impress Kirby Smart: ‘He blocks bigger than he actually is’
By Keith Farner
Published:
Kirby Smart believes what Ladd McConkey is doing now for Georgia is the same that he did in high school, so it’s not a surprise to the Georgia coach that the wide receiver has had success.
McConkey already this season matched his career high with 5 receptions for 73 yards and a TD in the season-opening win over No. 11 Oregon. He also rushed twice for 16 yards, including a 9-yard TD run against the Ducks, and had a 37-yard catch, as well as 2 punt returns for 32 yards, in the win over Samford.
He went for 4 catches for 52 yards in the win at South Carolina.
“Ladd has been an incredible team person,” Smart said at his Monday press conference. “This guy embodies what you talk about when you talk about team, because he blocks so hard. He blocks so physical, he blocks bigger than he actually is. You watch the tape closely, he goes in and cracks on safeties and hits people and goes and does what you ask. Then he gets the ball in his hands and he makes people miss.”
Smart said enough people don’t give McConkey credit for his toughness and speed.
“Every team that wants to have explosive plays, it doesn’t matter what the play is, somebody has to block somebody,” Smart said. “… Ladd has no problem embracing that, Ladd’s a team player.”
A former newspaper veteran, Keith Farner is a news manager for Saturday Down South.
