ATHENS — Wide receiver and kick returner Ahkil Crumpton has joined the Georgia football team, coach Kirby Smart confirmed on Monday.

Crumpton, who is from Philadelphia, spent last year at Los Angeles Valley College, where he was a receiver and a kick returner. Small but quick, he draws natural comparisons to Isaiah McKenzie, who was Georgia’s leading receiver in 2016 and a punt return star. McKenzie left after the season for the NFL.

“We combed the country looking for an elite returner,” Smart said. “We didn’t feel like we had an elite returner. We really don’t have any experienced guys. We lost two guys. Isaiah had done it so long and we weren’t expecting to lose him. So when that situation arises you try to fix your roster as best you can. …

“We identified him as someone we felt was a really good player. Of course we watched tape on him, and he really did a good job. We think that he upgrades our roster. He helps us.”

Terry Godwin, the junior receiver who has been a backup punt returner the last couple of years, will get a long look in that role, Smart added. But Crumpton is now in the mix.

Crumpton is expected to be a blue-shirt, which means he’s a player who was not actively recruited prior to arriving on the team and would count toward the 2018 signing class. Per NCAA blue-shirting rules, Crumpton could not visit Athens, nor could the Georgia coach conduct an official visit.

Georgia latched on to Crumpton late, and it was only last Thursday that the deal even became semi-official. Smart said that Crumpton needed to pass a math class to meet SEC academic requirements. The staff also did character background checks, including with now-fellow Georgia newcomers D’Andre Swift and Mark Webb, who are also from Philadelphia.

“Does he remind us of Isaiah? I think that’s hard, because we’re just now laying our eyes on him. We haven’t really been able to see him besides tape. … I’ve got to wait and see how practice goes when we put the pads on. He’s built pretty similar,” Smart said.

Smart also confirmed that graduate transfer kicker David Marvin from Wofford has joined the team. Marvin is also expected to blue-shirt.