Is UGA Football WR Arian Smith Bound For Breakout 2023 Season?
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ATHENS - Kirby Smart and the Georgia Bulldogs have one of the most explosive players on the roster heading into the 2023 season. In fact, he’s been on the roster for three full seasons now.
Of course, I’m talking about Arian Smith.
A game-changing wide receiver due to his speed and electric playmaking ability, Smith has only caught 12 passes so far in his career, but he’s gone off for 386 yards and four touchdowns.
When he catches the ball, big things happen. Just ask Ohio State fans.
Heading into his fourth season this fall, it’s clear Georgia fans want to see more of Arian Smith. He’s one of the most dangerous down-field threats in college football, averaging an eye-opening 32.1 yards per catch.
But where does he sit on the depth chart? Will Smith finally have a true “breakout” season this fall?
Let’s break it down...
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As explosive as Smith is, he’ll once again play in a very crowded wide receiver room. New offensive coordinator Mike Bobo is going to share the load not only among his running backs, but across the pass-catchers as well.
Of course, Brock Bowers is the alpha. He’s one of the very best players in college football, and he needs the ball as much as possible in his final season Between the Hedges. He has to get his touches. Last season as a sophomore, Bowers caught 63 passes for 942 yards and 10 total touchdowns.
According to FanDuel, Bowers has +6000 odds to win the Heisman Trophy in 2023.
Then there’s Ladd McConkey. One of the SEC’s top receivers heading into the 2023 season, McConkey is a versatile weapon who can make plays no matter where he’s lined up. In year three last season, McConkey caught 58 passes (2nd on the team) for 762 yards and seven TDs. As good as Smith is, McConkey will certainly get his share of targets this fall.
The Bulldogs brought in veteran Dominic Lovett from the transfer portal for a reason. At Missouri last season, Lovett was a dependable option all season long, catching 56 passes for 846 yards and three touchdowns for the Tigers. He didn’t come to Georgia to sit. He came to play, and he’s going to catch plenty of passes this year.
Don’t forget about Rara Thomas, either. He may have missed the spring, but Thomas is another addition from the transfer portal who caught 44 passes at Mississippi State last year for 626 yards and 7 touchdowns. He’s a big, physical receiver at 6-foot-2 200-pounds who can be a mismatch down the field and in the red-zone. Look for him to play some type of role in the offense this year.
But that’s not all. Receivers Marcus Rosemy-Jacksaint, Dillon Bell, Jackson Meeks, and multiple others have seen the field at Georgia. Each proved last year they have enough talent to make an impact, and they’re all hungry to see more of the field this fall.
Overall, you could make the case that this is Georgia’s deepest receiver room in recent memory. There are playmakers everywhere, and that’s including “tight end” Brock Bowers.
So how can Smith make more of an impact. His speed is deadly, and it’s clear they’d like to use that speed more and more this year. He’s dangerous down the field and can score from anywhere on the field. And yet, he’s still looked at as a reserve. The cherry on top.
That’s a scary thought for the Georgia offense. But hey, this is a money year for Arian Smith, so expect him to see the ball a lot more this upcoming season.
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