Why Kirby Smart called JUCO transfer Ahkil Crumpton a ‘blessing in disguise’

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Ahkil Crumpton proving to be more than a return man

When Georgia added Ahkil Crumpton as a late addition to the recruiting Class of 2017, it was clear the former JUCO playmaker was brought in to bolster UGA’s return game in the wake of Isaiah McKenzie’s departure to the NFL. But based on reviews from Kirby Smart, Crumpton might also help fill the void McKenzie left at receiver as well.

On Tuesday, Smart described Crumpton as a “blessing in disguise” and lauded the work he’s done at receiver. Smart specifically pointed to his route-running skills and hands as facets of Crumpton’s game he’s been pleased with, the latter of which is key to improving Georgia’s passing game as drops plagued the receiving corps at points in 2016. From GeorgiaDogs.com:

“Blessing in disguise, because he’s really run great routes.  He’s really good in and out of breaks.  He’s got great hands, big hands for a small guy. He snatches the ball out of the air. He plucks it.  He’s done a really good job.  The tough thing is, he’s in competition with Mecole [Hardman] some, Terry [Godwin] some, Mark Webb has worked in the slot some.  So his specialty is returning, but he’s not a one-trick guy.  The guy goes in there and does really well.  I’ll tell you what now, he is physical and feisty.  He doesn’t mind getting up in there and blocking and competing. He gets slung around sometimes, but it’s the fight in him that I’ve really enjoyed.”

High praise for J.R. Reed

Crumpton wasn’t the only transfer Smart singled out in his remarks to the media on Tuesday. Safety J.R. Reed, who transferred from Tulsa following the 2015 season, also drew praise from his head coach, who called the potential starting safety “probably the best decision that we’ve made from a standpoint of transfers.” Again, from GeorgiaDogs.com:

”I didn’t know what we were getting.  He’s a really good athlete.  I knew he was really fast. We didn’t know much.  We had heard.  We talked to the coaches where he was and they all said he was a good player and we were a little deficient in that area.  And he’s turned out to be probably the best decision that we’ve made from a standpoint of transfers, junior college players.  That was a huge get for us because we’re struggling a little bit right now in the secondary from the standpoint of depth.  He’s made it where we’ve got five guys that we can really play with.  Without him, we might be four or less.  So he’s done a good job.  He’s really competitive.  I thought he played well in the scrimmage the other day.”

Georgia adds 4-star WR to class of 2018

Georgia added another to its list of commitments from the Class of 2018, as 4-star WR Elijah Moore announced his pledge to the Bulldogs on Tuesday night. The St. Thomas Aquinas wideout is the 10th player to commit to Georgia and the first receiver in the 2018 class.

https://twitter.com/e_moore03/status/897616531504472064?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.dawgnation.com%2Ffootball%2Frecruiting%2Fbreaking-4-star-uga-target-elijah-moore-made-decision

Kirby Smart changes his tune on Terry Godwin

Continuing the wide receiver discussion, we turn our attention to Terry Godwin. Georgia’s top returning receiver will be heavily relied upon in the passing game this season, and reports out of camp indicate the former 5-star may finally be on the cusp to living up to that lofty ranking. Smart was critical of Godwin last season, but has changed his tune through three weeks of preseason camp. From Seth Emerson of DawgNation:

“As far as depth of routes, running the routes, catching the ball, making plays, blocking people,” Smart said. “And a lot of that was from outside. It wasn’t just inside. He can play inside. He does great with it. But he’s become more valuable to us outside. And I mean value as far as vertical threat. Just catching the ball.

“He’s very consistent in what he does. He made a couple plays out there today, where you start seeing the guy is really becoming the guy that we expect him to become.”

Dawgs on Twitter

Let it fly.#ATD pic.twitter.com/hf0RHLwJse

— Georgia Football (@FootballUGA) August 16, 2017

E A R N I T .#ATD pic.twitter.com/2rlF7jnQIS

— Georgia Football (@FootballUGA) August 15, 2017

18 days till kickoff means we get to watch a pick-six from former #18 Bacarri Rambo.#ATD #18Days pic.twitter.com/4DA4ty3lDe

— Georgia Football (@FootballUGA) August 15, 2017

Good dog

Ice, ice, baby.

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