The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Big blow: Receiver Pickens out for season with torn ACL
It wasn’t necessarily the worst development that could have happened for the Georgia Bulldogs in 2021, but losing George Pickens for the season was close to it.
The school confirmed Wednesday the junior wide receiver from Hoover, Alabama, suffered a torn ACL in his right knee during a noncontact portion of the fourth spring practice Tuesday. An MRI showed no further damage to the knee, but surgery will have to be performed, and Pickens will be sidelined the remainder of the year.
“George is a hard worker,” coach Kirby Smart said in the news release. “I know he will bring the same work ethic to rehab that he shows in practice every day.”
What the school did not say is the injury likely will end Pickens’ college career. A rising junior, Pickens was considered one of the top returning receivers in college football and a potential first-round NFL draft pick. With the standard recovery time of an ACL injury being one year, that would give
Pickens just enough time to rehabilitate and show scouts his wares before the 2022 NFL draft.
“I’d say that’s a fair assumption,” said Terrence Edwards, Georgia’s single-season receiving record-holder and owner of Edwards’ Wide Receiver Academy. “He is a guy who had the talent to play in the NFL. When he came out of high school I called him a three-and-done. That’s not going to change in my mind. You never know; he may
decide to come back for one more year. But ACLS aren’t a death sentence like they used to be. He’ll just have to get healthy.”
Most will agree Pickens’ long-term future remains bright. He was the most talented and consistent receiver on Georgia’s roster. Even after missing two games with a shoulder injury last season, he tied for the team lead with 36 receptions, had 513 yards receiving and led wideouts with six touchdowns. That gives him 1,240 yards and 14 touchdowns on 85 catches in two seasons for the Bulldogs.
But if there was ever a season in which Georgia could absorb such a loss in the receiver corps, it’s this one. The Bulldogs return 11 of their top 12 pass-catchers from last season, six of whom are wideouts. Tops among them are rising junior Kearis Jackson (36 receptions, 514 yards, 3 TDS) and sophomore Jermaine Burton (27, 404, 3).
As a freshman last season, Marcus Rosemy-jacksaint filled at the X receiver (split end) when Pickens was sidelined, and he had a 32-yard touchdown in the first quarter of the Florida game. However, he suffered a broken leg on that play and did not return last season. He’s expected to be cleared to play sometime this summer.
Burton played flanker last season but already had been working at the X this spring. Fifth-year senior Demetris Robertson, sophomore Arian Smith and redshirt freshman Justin Robinson will be among those immediately looked toward to increase production.