Georgia Football: George Pickens has All-American potential

After a successful freshman season in which he led Georgia football in receiving, George Pickens could be an All-American in 2020.

When George Pickens committed to Georgia, it was clear Kirby Smart had a plan for his program post-Jake Fromm.

The former five-star wide out was ranked the No. 24 player in the nation and was one of the best receiver prospects, according to 247Sports, and the site’s recruiting experts compared him to Mike Williams of the Los Angeles Chargers.

Standing 6-foot-3 and 190 pounds, he has the frame to be one of those jump-ball receivers who has the ability to move the chains as a reliable go-to guy as well.

As a freshman in 2019, he became Fromm’s favorite target early on, catching at least four passes for 75 yards in each of his first two games and three of the first four. He got quiet starting on Oct. 19 against Kentucky until the end of the regular season and even in the SEC title game as he didn’t surpass 70 receiving yards in any week.

And then the Sugar Bowl happened.

Pickens went off and caught 12 passes for 175 yards and a touchdown, leading the Bulldogs’ offense against a tough Baylor defense. Georgia went on to beat Baylor 26-14.

Now entering his sophomore season, Pickens returns as the team’s presumed No. 1 receiver and he may have an even more potent quarterback throwing him the ball. Fromm was great and everything, but he didn’t have the best junior year which led to his NFL draft stock dropping. Both Jamie Newman and JT Daniels have elite potential and that’ll only help Pickens.

The sophomore receiver enters the 2020 season on Athlon Sports’ All-SEC second team along with Alabama’s Jaylen Waddle. He’s only behind Ja’Marr Chase and DeVonta Smith who both made the first team as receivers. Pickens has the potential to leap one of those and even make a push for the All-American team this fall.

As long as Newman or Daniels can live up to the hype and Georgia finds itself a top-tier passer between the two, Pickens will surpass 1,000 yards with ease and potentially lead the SEC in receiving — especially with LSU’s passing game being a question mark.

Keep an eye on Pickens this fall as he may just end up being the SEC’s top wide out.