It has been nearly two weeks since Georgia star tight end Brock Bowers suffered what could conceivably be a UGA career-ending injury. Since Bowers is projected to be a top-12 pick in the 2024 NFL Draft, the all-world tight end may have played his last down for the Dawgs. Then again, he loves to compete and could be back from tightrope surgery before the end of the season. There is hope!
However, with tightrope surgery having somewhere around a four-to-six-week recovery timeline, Bowers will presumably miss at least the Dawgs' next three games coming out of their bye. Thus, he will almost certainly miss Florida down in Jacksonville, home vs. Missouri in two Saturdays and Georgia's home finale vs. Ole Miss in three. He could be back vs. Tennessee at the earliest, we think.
So with that in mind, Georgia will have to embrace the next-man-up mentality in the receiving game. This actually lines up well for Georgia starting quarterback Carson Beck potentially crashing the early December Heisman Trophy party up in New York City. The Dawgs' hardest games are ahead of them. Obviously, so much will be put on his plate without having Bowers available for a month and change.
Here are three other playmakers who will need to step up to offset no longer having Bowers available.
3. Oscar Delp becomes the next man up in the tight end room for Georgia
With Bowers going down, that means more focus in the passing game will be placed on sophomore tight end Oscar Delp. The former blue-chipper in-state was on the team last year, learning behind Bowers and Darnell Washington. With Washington now in the NFL and Bowers sidelined, he has no choice but to become TE1 in the Georgia passing offense, at least for the next few weekends or so.
The good news for Delp is Beck seems to trust him already. He may be asked to do different things in the receiving game, but I expect for that to evolve a bit with offensive coordinator Mike Bobo shuffling the deck. Instead of being very 12 personnel heavy with two tight end sets, I envision the Dawgs will embrace more of an 11-personnel look with three wide receiver sets to help create some more space.
Look for Beck to target Delp a bit more on third downs and in the red zone. He may not be Beck's safety valve in those critical spots like Bowers has been all year, but you better believe this will be his role next year in the Dawgs' passing offense with Bowers almost certainly turning pro. It may be a tad clunky at times, but the talent is there. The question is if Delp can develop a great rapport with Beck.
Other players from Todd Hartley's tight end room will have to step up, but none more so than Delp.
2. Marcus Rosemy-Jacksaint is playing his best ball of his Georgia career
The Florida game will always be one veteran wide receiver Marcus Rosemy-Jacksaint looks back on with mixed emotions. While the Dawgs have won the last two Cocktail Parties down in Jacksonville, he suffered a ghastly broken leg in the brutal loss to the Gators during the 2020 COVID season. Fortunately for him and Jacksonville native Beck, it is showtime for the Dawgs this year once again.
There may be more talented pass catchers in the Georgia offense, but Rosemy-Jacksaint has quickly emerged as one of Beck's favorite downfield targets. He is great outside the numbers in one-on-one settings. His play has elevated with the arrival of Dominic Lovett and Rara Thomas from Missouri and Mississippi State this season. Of course, they are not prepared for what all lies ahead down in Duval...
I think Rosemy-Jacksaint's ability to stretch the field will open up clearer passing lanes in the middle of the field, as well as space for Bobo's ground game to go to work. Georgia will need to be able to move the sticks with conviction with his rushing attack, but having a tremendous playmaker like Rosemy-Jacksaint available to make big, downfield completions is a huge plus, even without Bowers.
Look for Rosemy-Jacksaint's veteran leadership in the receiving room to shine in Bowers' absence.
1. Ladd McConkey becomes Carson Beck's new safety valve in the slot
One of the biggest reasons why the Georgia offense was so up-and-down during the first third of the season was Ladd McConkey's absence in the slot. The former under-recruited wide receiver from the Georgia-Tennessee border went from a guy few schools wanted to a player who will almost certainly be a day-two or day-three pick whenever he decides to turn pro. He is the straw that stirs the drink.
Although he may not have the physical presence of a Bowers at tight end, McConkey is every bit the reliable pass catcher in the middle of the field. Competitive as hell, he has the innate ability to take over a game as a receiver. He may have had injuries in the past, but you and I both know that he knows this is his time to shine. McConkey is already a UGA legend, but can add to his legacy, alright.
To me, McConkey's abilities to gel with any quarterback throwing him the ball does wonders for the Georgia aerial attack. He will become Beck's new safety valve with Bowers out for the next month or so. The reason this is so important is his veteran leadership will help take some of the pressure off Delp at tight end. The offense will be more wide receiver centric with Bowers working his way back.
Having a special receiving talent like McConkey should keep the Dawgs on top of college football.
