Georgia WR George Pickens’ talent worthy of A.J. Green comparison, first-round pick

ATHENS — George Pickens appears to be like like an NFL first-round draft decide, performs like a first-round NFL draft decide and appears like a first-round NFL draft decide.

However will Pickens, probably the most proficient Georgia soccer receiver since A.J. Inexperienced, truly be a first-round decide within the 2022 NFL Draft on Thursday evening?

The 2022 NFL Draft, which runs Thursday-Saturday in Final Vegas, is loaded with elite huge receiver prospects.

The 6-foot-3, 195-pound Pickens made case he measures up among the many greatest, working a 4.47-second time within the 40-yard sprint and exploding wit a 125-inch broad soar and 33-inch vertical.

For reference, Inexperienced — a shoo-in NFL Corridor of Fame — measured in at 6-1.5 and 202 kilos, ran a 4.48, had a 126-inch broad soar and had a 34.5 vertical on the 2011 NFL Mix.

Cleveland Browns security and former Georgia All-American Richard LeCounte took observe of Pickens from the time he arrived on the UGA campus as a 5-star recruit out of Hoover in 2019.

Richard LeCounte, Eric Stokes hype George Pickens

“George is a superb man, he performs actually quick, he has large, robust palms,” LeCounte stated. “He reminds you lots of A.J. Inexperienced together with his skillset to regulate to the ball within the air.”

Inexperienced Bay Packers cornerback Eric Stokes was simply as large of a fan of Pickens at UGA.

“George is a one-of-a-kind participant, I’m not mendacity,” Stokes stated, two weeks into Pickens’ first fall with the crew. “You discuss this (pointing to a leg scrape), it occurred right this moment due to George. He’s one heckuva huge receiver that we’ve received, George is an actual expertise, and he’s on prime of his releases and all of that,”

Pickens’ physicality and willingness as a fringe blocker made him an on the spot favourite of Coach Kirby Good, who harps on having toughness at a place higher know for health.

Pickens’ spotlight tape of catches impresses, too. He has proven an unbelievable catch radius and the power to contort his physique to make spectacular receptions or protect off defenders in protection.

UGA cornerback Derion Kendrick, who transferred over from Clemson coming into the 2021 season, places Pickens on the identical degree as any of the receivers he has confronted.

“I’d say it’s his intelligence on the place, he’s a really sensible receiver, he is aware of what the DB is making an attempt to do to him,” stated Kendrick, the CFP Orange Bowl Defensive MVP.

“So, he is aware of methods to launch and affect you on his routes, and he could go get the ball a sure method on sure performs, issues like that make him particular.”

Pickens is such a dominant receiver that former LSU defensive coordinator and present Baylor coach Dave Aranda stated he had particular coverages in place particularly to cease Pickens.

“We had to verify we pressed him,” Aranda stated. “We had a double protection that we saved till halftime for him. We had a cloud protection, wherever he was at, that we saved till after halftime, as properly.”

Present Carolina Panthers head coach and former Baylor head coach Matt Rhule ought to have taken notes: Pickens lit up Rhule’s High 10 Baylor crew like no different.

Pickens, working with future NFL quarterback Jake Fromm, had 11 catches for 165 yards and a TD by halftime of the Bulldogs’ 26-14 win over the No.-7-ranked Bears.

George Pickens puts on a show, dominates with Jake Fromm in Sugar Bowl

Pickens completed with 12 catches for 175 yards, tying the college’s bowl file for catches in a sport together with his Offensive MVP efficiency as he completed the nation’s main freshman receiver with 37 catches for 552 yards.

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Pickens heated up over the ultimate 4 video games of his sophomore season with JT Daniels below middle, meshing with the SoCal gunslinger to the tune of 23 catches for 373 yards and 4 touchdowns — after having 13 catches for 140 yards in his earlier 4 video games.

The Daniels-Pickens duo was one of the crucial anticipated of the 2021 season, however early into UGA spring drills, Pickens suffered a torn ACL.

Many believed Pickens’ profession at Georgia could possibly be completed, however he vowed to return for the season, an bold timetable.

“As quickly as I received harm, I knew in my head, I used to be going to have a strict schedule and a routine that I used to be going to attempt to abide by and take a look at to return and get again as quickly as I can,” Pickens stated.

“I’m laborious on myself, and after I figured that out, I found out that if you recognize your self, you possibly can’t misinform your self.”

Pickens got here again to a extra balanced UGA offense run below Stetson Bennett that relied on backs and tight ends greater than perimeter receivers.

Pickens, who performed the ultimate 4 video games, got here up with the primary — and much-needed — offensive momentum play for Georgia within the CFP Championship Recreation. Racing down the center of the sphere open, Pickens leaped excessive and went horizontal in Tremendous Man like trend to reel in a 52-yard catch that arrange the Bulldogs first rating of the evening.

The Pickens’ Plan, LSU went all out to cease No. 1

Pickens’ pace, athleticism, palms and dedication have been all on show for the time being: An enormous-time participant making a big-time play in a big-time sport.

Good was the least stunned particular person within the constructing, as he’d had a greater learn on Pickens than anybody earlier than the Georgia receiver grew to become a family title within the SEC.

“This child loves ball, ” Good stated. “He’s as pure of a catcher as I’ve ever seen.”

Pickens introduced on the NFL Mix that he carries himself with a “first-round” mentality, making it clear that he’s not solely prepared for the following degree, however he plans to proceed to be dominant after enjoying and training towards the most effective in school soccer whereas at Georgia.

“Now we have NFL-type practices, we now have NFL-type gamers,” Pickens stated. “Half of the gamers on my crew are already right here (14 on the mix). It’s virtually such as you’re within the league, already.”

Seems to be like a first-round decide, performs like a first-round decide, and appears like a first-round decide, the NFL is on the clock to find out Pickens’ start line.