What Does Leo Blackburn's Injury Mean For Georgia Tech's Wide Receiver Room?

Blackburn suffered an ACL injury during practice on Monday

Author:
Jackson Caudell
Publish date:
Mar 29, 2023 6:19 PM EDT

In this story:

Leo Blackburn was set to compete for a starting spot at the wide receiver position for Georgia Tech this spring, but unfortunately for him, he suffered an ACL tear that is likely to keep him out for the entire season. Blackburn has been battling injuries throughout his career at Georgia Tech, but head coach Brent Key sounded confident that he will be back and stronger than ever:

"He was hurt during Monday's practice, he will be out for the season most likely with the knee. It is unfortunate for Leo, great kid. He has been truly snakebitten with these things for the last three years, but the thing that we talk about everyday with our team is be where your feet are. Control what you can control and just be one day at a time and learn from the past and prepare for the future. He came into my office and I talked to his mom and I talked to him and I said Leo this is great news. Because now, Leo is not only going to get to graduate from Georgia Tech, he is going to get a master's degree from Georgia Tech and he is still going to chase every dream that he had in football and be able to succeed in that. We will be looking for the bright spot in that thing and that truly is a bright spot for that thing and that truly is a bright spot, that Leo is going to be able to do that.

The character, we talk about toughness a lot and who we want to be as a team... Leo Blackburn checks almost every box when it comes to that. Not just a great kid but when you talk about the true qualities of what a tough guy is and what it means to be tough, he checks them all and he will be back stronger than ever and next man up."

So what does this news mean for the rest of the Georgia Tech wide receiver room?

Georgia Tech Wide Receiver Leo Blackburn — Leo Blackburn suffered an ACL tear on Monday
Georgia Tech Athletics

The Yellow Jackets are already unproven at the wide receiver position given that Nate McCollum, EJ Jenkins, Malachi Carter, Ryan King, and Kalani Norris are all gone due to transfer or out of eligibility. Blackburn is a very talented player with a high ceiling and he was going to have a chance to play a lot of snaps this season.

Tech is looking to have a big improvement in their passing game this year and while the quarterback position is going to get a lot of the headlines, the wide receiver group is just as important and in my opinion, the most unproven group of the offense.

Georgia Tech has brought in three transfers already through the portal and two of them (Christian Leary and Abdul Janneh) have already enrolled and are going through spring. Texas A&M wide receiver Chase Lane is going to be arriving in the summer. Could Blackburn's injury cause Tech to look back in the portal for another player once the portal window opens again in May? I think it is possible, but that is not something that is on Key's mind at the moment:

"We got the guys we have right now and when I talk to the staff and I address the staff, we go into everyday of spring practice as if these are the guys that we are going to play 12 games with. Nothing else. We can't worry about who might come, who might leave. That is the world we live in in college football nowadays. We hire great coaches and we have a great staff to prepare those guys that we have out there and that is the way we look at it. We have to prepare and elevate the play of those guys out there.

With that being said, the receiver position is one that I have been very pleased with in the first five days. As far as getting the ball in space, Buster is doing a great job of designing plays to get the ball working sideline to sideline and getting the ball in their hands. Obviously speed at the receiver position is something that we addressed and we have more guys that will be coming in in the summer that have already signed with us so we are excited to get to work with the guys we have and see them progress."

While not completely ruling it out, Georgia Tech might not go back in the portal and get a fourth receiver. If they stick with the guys they have, it could open the door for the three freshman wide receivers to play.

Zion Taylor, Bryce Dopson, and Eric Singleton Jr all have talent and the ability to work their way on the field. Dopson and Singleton Jr have a lot of speed and can stretch the defenses vertically and Taylor has the ability to make tough catches. I like their fit in the offense and with the loss of Blackburn, they have an opportunity to play as freshmen.

The guys on the roster are also going to have to step up. With Blackburn being an outside receiver, guys like D.J. Moore, Avery Boyd, Juju Lewis, and James Blackstrain are going to have a chance to step up now and claim a starting spot. I think these guys can be playmakers and from what Key said after practice on Wednesday, he is pleased with their progress.

There are a lot of moving parts in this group and a lot of guys have something to prove. This will be a position to watch the rest of spring and into the fall. There is always a chance that Key and the offensive staff go get another receiver through the portal, but for now, they are going to have to depend on the players currently on the roster.

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