Ladd McConkey
Georgia Bulldogs – No. 84
PositionWide receiver
Class
Redshirt
Redshirt
Junior
MajorFinance
Personal information
Born: (2001-11-11) November 11, 2001 (age 22)
Chatsworth, Georgia, U.S.
Height6 ft 0 in (1.83 m)
Weight185 lb (84 kg)
Career history
College
Bowl games
High schoolNorth Murray (Chatsworth)
Career highlights and awards

Andrew Ladd McConkey (born November 11, 2001) is an American football wide receiver. He played college football at Georgia, winning two national championships and the 2023 Wuerffel Trophy.

High school career

McConkey attended North Murray High School in Chatsworth, Georgia.[1][2] He made the varsity team as a freshman. McConkey was an athlete as he played quarterback, running back, defensive back, punter, and he was also a return specialist.[3] In his senior year, he led North Murray to a 9–1 record and the school's first ever region championship.[4] McConkey finished the year with 36 total touchdowns and 3,051 total yards, being named the offensive player of the year for the region.[5] McConkey was a three-star recruit and committed to the University of Georgia on February 2, 2020.[6]

College career

McConkey redshirted and was initially a member of Georgia's scout team.[7]

In McConkey's redshirt freshman year, he caught five touchdowns with 28 receptions for 430 yards.[8] His first career touchdown came against Vanderbilt. McConkey also rushed for one touchdown. He was named the SEC Freshman of the Week after the 34-10 win over Auburn, where he received 135 yards and scored one touchdown.[9] McConkey played in all of Georgia's games making seven starts.[10]

McConkey scored two touchdowns, one receiving, and one rushing, against Oregon in the 2022 season opener.[11] Against Kent State, McConkey recorded a career high six receptions.[12] He would score a touchdown against Florida before tallying a season-high 94 yards in the game of the century against Tennessee.[13][14] The following week against Mississippi State, McConkey would rush for a 70-yard touchdown while also adding a 17-yard receiving touchdown.[15]

He left the SEC Championship Game against LSU on December 3, 2022, due to knee tendinitis.[16]

In the 2023 College Football Playoff National Championship Game, McConkey recorded five receptions for 88 yards and two touchdowns in a 65–7 victory.[17] Following the game, he announced that he would return to Georgia for the 2023 season.[18][19]

The following season, McConkey missed significant time due to injuries.[20][21] He finished the regular season with 29 receptions for 456 yards and two touchdowns, and he was named the recipient of the Wuerffel Trophy.[22][23] On January 1, 2024, McConkey declared for the 2024 NFL Draft.[24][25]

Season Games Receiving Rushing
College statistics
GP Rec Yards Avg TD Att Yards Avg TD
2021 15 31 447 14.4 5 4 44 11.0 1
2022 15 58 762 13.1 7 7 134 19.1 2
2023 9 30 478 15.7 2 2 38 19.0 1
Career[26] 39 119 1,687 14.1 14 13 216 16.2 4

Personal life

A middle child, McConkey grew up a fan of the Tennessee Volunteers.[14][27] His father, Benji McConkey, was a star quarterback in high school at Dalton High,[28] while his brother, Hinton McConkey, played quarterback for the University of West Georgia in Division II in 2018.[29] McConkey writes "1-20-16" on his towel before games to honor his late grandfather Vic McConkey.[30]

McConkey graduated from Georgia in 2023 with a degree in finance.[31] His jersey number, 15, was retired by North Murray HS in October 2023.[32]

References

  1. ^ "Daniel Mayes: Hometown hero McConkey helps Georgia to historic national title beatdown". The Daily Citizen. Retrieved January 13, 2023.
  2. ^ "Ladd McConkey celebrated at North Murray High School". WDEF. January 11, 2023. Retrieved January 13, 2023.
  3. ^ "Ladd Mcconkey's High School Timeline". MaxPreps.com. Retrieved October 15, 2021.
  4. ^ Ewalt, David (November 14, 2019). "Ladd McConkey is North Georgia's Most Exciting Player". Recruit Georgia. Retrieved July 24, 2023.
  5. ^ Jones, Jamie (February 5, 2020). "Home work: North Murray's McConkey ready to compete at Georgia". The Daily Citizen. Retrieved July 24, 2023.
  6. ^ Sentell, Jeff (February 2, 2020). "Homegrown Georgia WR Ladd McConkey has made his college decision". DawgNation. Retrieved June 1, 2022.
  7. ^ Griffith, Mike (September 26, 2021). "Ladd McConkey gives Georgia receiving corps rocket boost in 62-0 win over Vanderbilt". DawgNation. Retrieved June 1, 2022.
  8. ^ Felder, Justin (December 3, 2021). "McConkey's hometown fans not surprised by his breakout season". FOX 5 Atlanta. Retrieved July 24, 2023.
  9. ^ Kelley, Kevin (October 11, 2021). "Ladd McConkey named SEC Freshman of the Week". SicEmDawgs.com. Retrieved December 8, 2021.
  10. ^ "Ladd McConkey 2021 Game Log". College Football at Sports-Reference.com. Retrieved June 1, 2022.
  11. ^ Roe, Josh (September 4, 2022). "Chatsworth, GA native Ladd McConkey scores twice as Georgia beats Oregon, 49-3". WTVCFOX. Retrieved November 13, 2022.
  12. ^ "Ladd McConkey struggles, second-half bounce back sums up 'ugly' win for Georgia football". DawgNation. September 24, 2022. Retrieved November 13, 2022.
  13. ^ "Football vs Florida on 10/29/2022 - Box Score". University of Georgia Athletics. Retrieved November 13, 2022.
  14. ^ a b "Ladd McConkey, who grew up a Tennessee fan, shares what the latest Georgia win means". Saturday Down South. November 6, 2022. Retrieved November 13, 2022.
  15. ^ "Top-ranked Georgia cruises to 45-19 win at Mississippi State". spectrumlocalnews.com. Retrieved November 13, 2022.
  16. ^ "UGA WR McConkey exits with tendinitis in knees". December 3, 2022.
  17. ^ Thompson, Scott (January 10, 2023). "Georgia's Ladd McConkey praises Stetson Bennett after another national title: 'He shows up in the big moments'". Fox News. Retrieved January 11, 2023.
  18. ^ Harvey, Preston (January 19, 2023). "Georgia's Ladd McConkey will be returning for the 2023 season according to social media post". WJCL. Retrieved December 14, 2023.
  19. ^ Warden, Owen (January 18, 2023). "Ladd McConkey returns to Georgia for 2023 season". The Red and Black. Retrieved December 14, 2023.
  20. ^ Jr, Kevin Parrish (December 13, 2023). "Kirby Smart Offers Injury Update On Wide Receiver Ladd McConkey". The Spun. Retrieved December 14, 2023.
  21. ^ Emerson, Seth. "McConkey could sit out vs. Georgia Tech after ankle injury". The Athletic. Retrieved December 14, 2023.
  22. ^ Gadsby, James. "University of Georgia's Ladd McConkey Selected as the 2023 Wuerffel Trophy Recipient – Wuerffel Trophy". Retrieved December 14, 2023.
  23. ^ Davis, Brett (December 9, 2023). "Georgia's Ladd McConkey Wins Wuerffel Trophy". Albany Herald. Retrieved December 14, 2023.
  24. ^ Kirby II, Christian (January 1, 2024). "Ladd McConkey Announces 2024 Draft Decision". Gwinnett Daily Post. Retrieved January 1, 2024.
  25. ^ Emerson, Seth. "Georgia WR Ladd McConkey declares for NFL Draft". The Athletic. Retrieved January 1, 2024.
  26. ^ "Ladd McConkey College Stats, School, Draft, Gamelog, Splits". College Football at Sports-Reference.com. Retrieved January 25, 2023.
  27. ^ Austin, Brooks. "Georgia Football: Get to Know 2020 Signee, Ladd McConkey". Sports Illustrated Georgia Bulldogs News, Analysis and More. Retrieved December 8, 2021.
  28. ^ "Greatest Quarterbacks of All Time". August 13, 2021.
  29. ^ "Hinton McConkey - 2018 - Football".
  30. ^ Sentell, Jeff (October 13, 2021). "Georgia football: The crazy story on where Ladd McConkey was headed before his UGA offer". DawgNation. Retrieved December 8, 2021.
  31. ^ "Ninety-Nine UGA Student-Athletes Scheduled to Graduate".
  32. ^ Mayes, Daniel (September 12, 2023). "Ladd McConkey's No. 15 to be retired by North Murray football; Ceremony to take place during Oct. 20 game". The Daily Citizen. Retrieved October 21, 2023.

External links

Wuerffel Trophy winners
2021 Georgia Bulldogs football—consensus national champions
2022 Georgia Bulldogs football—consensus national champions
Categories