Georgia Football: 5 Signees who’ll have instant impacts for Dawgs in 2019

Following the 2018 season, Georgia lost its top three tight ends: Jackson Harris to graduation, Isaac Nauta to the NFL and Luke Ford to Illinois as a transfer. Only on National Signing Day was the staff able to fully fill out the tight end position when they signed Brett Seither, a three-star prospect out of Florida.

With the depth issue addressed, the staff can now turn its attention to identifying who is ready for substantial playing time in 2019. Currently, Charlie Woerner is the most experienced tight end on Georgia’s roster and his experience consists of 25 receptions and no touchdowns.

That this is an important search would be an understatement considering the tight end position had a significant emphasis in the passing game during the 2018 season. In fact, Georgia’s third leading receiver in 2018 was tight end Isaac Nauta.

Ryland Goede might be the right candidate to fill Nauta’s role. Arriving on campus as the seventh ranked tight end in the 2019 class per 247Sports, Goede already possesses SEC size, standing at 6-foot-6 and weighing 240 pounds. Of concern, however, is that Goede is recovering from an ACL repair surgery that caused him to miss his senior season.

If he can get shake off the rust and get back to full strength by spring, Goede could compete for playing time at a position with no other proven playmakers.