A fan favorite Bulldog Receiver is hopping on his donkey and heading to the NFL.

Ladd McConkey came to Athens as an under-recruited three star prospect out of North Murray High School, but made his presence known almost immediately. Madd Ladd started 7 games as a true freshman in 2021, catching 31 passes for 447 yards and 5 touchdowns on his way to being named freshman All-SEC by the league’s coaches.

He topped that by snagging 58 catches for 762 yards and 7 touchdowns as a sophomore, earning second team All-SEC honors. While McConkey was hampered by injuries as a junior, he’ll certainly go down as one of the most popular players of the Kirby Smart era.

McConkey’s departure doesn’t come as a big surprise. He’s been tabbed as one of the top 5-7 receiver prospects in the 2024 draft. While McConkey’s size isn’t ideal his speed is elite. I’d expect him to run the 40 at the Combine and put up an impressive number.

Kirby Smart and his staff appeared to be recruiting this cycle as if they’d have to replace him. The Bulldogs certainly return a lot of weapons at receiver, including second leading receiver Dominic Lovett (54 catches for 613 yards and 4 touchdowns), Rara Thomas (23 receptions for 383 yards), and Dillon Bell (29 catches for 355 yards and 2 scores). Georgia also added a pair of transfer portal contributors in Miami’s Colbie Young (47 grabs for 563 yards and 5 touchdowns) and London Humphreys of Vanderbilt, whose eye-popping 19.95 yards per catch in 2023 make him a clear candidate to fill McConkey’s role.

Go get ‘em, Ladd. And….

Go ‘Dawgs!!!