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ATHENS - “Tight End University” is alive and well in Athens, Georgia.
The 2025 season was far from perfect for Todd Hartley’s group, but sources say the Georgia Bulldogs are trying to turn that around from a production standpoint.
The Dawgs are once again loaded with talent that’s led by senior Lawson Luckie. And thanks to elite recruiting there are several young tight ends looking to make a big impact next fall.
While it’s a very deep group overall, it’s clear the freshmen trio the Bulldogs just signed are doing everything they can to learn and adapt during spring practice.
One freshman standing out early is Kaiden Prothro. The big 6-foot-6 230-pound weapon out of Bowdon (GA) is a four-time state champion who broke the Georgia high school career touchdown receptions record, catching 157 career passes for 3,365 yards and 66 touchdowns.
Prothro brings sky-high potential due to his size and natural ball skills, but Kirby Smart told reporters this week the promising Bulldog still has a ways to go.
“He (Prothro) is a guy that was kind of half semi-receiver, semi-tight end and most of those guys coming in are. They weren't asked to play a natural tight end position in high school. [Brayden] Fogle, those guys, Lincoln [Keyes], have all done a great job with Prothro. I think Coach Hartley, Coach Lilly, Mark Johnson, they all coach those guys, push those guys, develop those guys. He's got a way to go to be physical enough to play in our level, down in and down out. He's a talented pass catcher. He's a large target. He has some twitchiness and quickness to get away from press and get off of press, and we're going to keep trying to figure out what it is all those guys do best, and where they are in their progression. I'm just proud of their attitude and their work ethic right now.”
As talented as they are, they all still have to be patient and wait their turn. Veteran Lawson Luckie will see the field consistently, Ethan Barbour has a chance to make a big impact in year two, and third-year player Jaden Redell is also hoping to see the field a lot this fall.
Then there’s Elyiss Williams. The hype is climbing for the former five-star prospect and sources say the 6-foot-7 255-pounder is turning heads right now in spring practice.
“He’s working on understanding each play”, Smart told reporters. “It's dynamic, what's going on around him. Use his size and quickness and become a little more twitchy to be a receiving tight end as well as a physical and dominating blocking tight end. He's a weapon on the perimeter because of his size, but he's also a weapon on the interior because of his ability to strike and roll his hips and be a really good athlete. Very pleased with that group, and they got a great competition going on in that room, like a lot of rooms, to compete for playing time.”
After last season, it’s clear the Bulldogs need to get the tight ends more involved in the passing game. They’re incredibly talented across the board, and it appears several are bound for big seasons in 2026.
