Two Wideouts 'Right on Schedule' Recovering from Serious Injuries
During his press conference Tuesday afternoon, Georgia head coach Kirby Smart said wide receivers Dominick Blaylock and Marcus Rosemy-Jacksaint "are running straight-line. They are right on schedule where they need to be."
Both are recovering from serious injuries. Blaylock tore an ACL, the same one he tore in the SEC Championship Game against LSU, while Rosemy-Jacksaint suffered a broken ankle against Florida.
While the headliners at the position this year are George Pickens, Jermaine Burton and Kearis Jackson, the Bulldogs will need to find other receivers to step up and make a difference this fall.
Traditional starting personnel in this day and age features three wide receivers on the field, meaning the Bulldogs still need to find one more. In the Dawgs Daily position preview series, we had Pickens as the X-receiver, the top man usually alone on one side of the formation, and Burton as the Z-receiver, the outside man on the strong side of the formation. At the moment, Kearis Jackson ranks as the No. 1 slot receiver for the team, but his place is not as concrete as Pickens or Burton.
Rosemy-Jacksaint currently ranks as the No. 3 X receiver and Blaylock the No. 3 slot. Even if they aren't able to cement starting roles, both could see a lot of playing time this season.
Rosemy-Jacksaint was a freshman last season, but impressed in his time on the field. He was just turning a corner and it felt like he was about to become a viable option in the offense when he broke his ankle diving for a touchdown against Florida.
This year is more of a test run for Rosemy-Jacksaint. With Pickens in front of him, he won't see the field a lot, but should get some snaps in anticipation for life after Pickens. Justin Robinson will occupy the No. 2 spot at the X position this spring with Rosemy-Jacksaint out. Robinson is a talented young player that Rosemy-Jacksaint will compete with for a starting spot next offseason depending on how he comes back from this injury.
Blaylock is the more likely of the two to play this year if he returns to full form, but that is the issue. It isn't just one ACL tear for Blaylock, it is two. If he returns to full health, it isn't unreasonable to assume he could challenge Jackson and Arian Smith for the starting slot role.
Fortunately for Blaylock, he is an extremely hard worker. He progressed ahead of schedule in his last rehab and people close to the situation feel he can get back to his full production on the field.
Both will continue their rehab processes as the offseason wears on and should be ready to go come fall camp.
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