WATCH: Departing Georgia receiver Riley Ridley coached up by NFL legends
ATHENS — Departing Georgia junior receiver Riley Ridley has found some select company — and instructors — working with former NFL receiving greats Terrell Owens and Chad Johnson.
Video surfaced of Owens and Ridley demonstrating techniques and sharing advice on the “Simms and Lefkow Show” on Bleacher Report.
The footage of Ridley with Johnson begins at the 5:39 mark, shortly after which Ridley declares “I’m more physical than any receiver going into the draft – I’m more physical than any DB.”
Ridley led Georgia receivers with 44 catches for 570 yards last season and 9 touchdowns. Ridley’s longest catch was for 35 yards and he averaged 12.95 yards per catch.
Ridley set a career-best this season at Missouri when he had 87 yards receiving in one game.
RELATED: Georgia football has 10 on early NFL Draft boards, where they’re ranked
Johnson, who starred with the Cincinnati Bengals, gave Ridley some advice on how to get open on the deep ball and encouraged him to be a stand out in the NFL.
“There’s 32 teams and there’s a No. 1 (receiver) on every team — what’s the difference in each No. 1 and the rest of the receivers on that team?” Johnson said. “There’s something about that dude that makes him special. There’s something about Odell (Beckham) that makes him different than the rest of the Giants receivers, right? Something about AB (Antonio Brown) that makes him special. Something about Julio (Jones).
“Wherever you go, when you get there, there’s got to be something special about (expletive) Riley Ridley that makes him special that separates him from everybody else. Whether it’s the way you work, your hands, the feet, the routes, whether it’s being consistent. It’s got to be something.”
Ridley has been projected from late-first round to late-third round in early NFL mock drafts, but he looks to be one of the players who could move up significantly with a good showing at the draft and at Georgia’s Pro Day on March 20.
RELATED: Sports Illustrated mock draft suggests Kirby Smart did more with less
Riley’s size (6-foot-2, 200 pounds), hands and route-running have attracted attention, and if he can show teams elite speed at the combine he could slip into the first round.
Ridley made it clear he appreciated the help and advice from Johnson and Owens.
“I got a brother in the NFL,” Ridley said, “but to be able to go through this on your own, to have great people around you and willing to help you, it’s amazing.”
Riley Ridley with Chad Johnson, Terrell Owens
(5:39 mark of video)
