November 5, 2024

It’s Goodbye But See You Again” Kirby Smart The Head Coach Of Georgia Bulldogs Just Annonuced His Departure In….

Crazy verticals, incredible strength, and blazing speed. Georgia football has sent some special athletes to the NFL Combine.

Georgia is one of the most elite NFL pipelines. Every year, the NFL Draft is littered with former Bulldogs. Most of that has to do with their play on the field, but every now and then, a former Georgia player will boost his draft stock by putting on a show at the NFL Combine. Here are some of the best from the past.

Chris Conley – 2015 – 45 inch vertical

Chris Conley had a solid career at Georgia, but his name was certainly not at the top of the list for wideouts in 2015. His best chance at boosting his draft stock was putting on a show at the combine, and did he ever. Conley measured in at 6-foot-2, ran a 4.35 40-yard dash, and jumped 11’7″ in the broad jump, but his most incredible moment came when he jumped an astounding 45 inches in the vertical. The number tied him for third all-time in NFL Combine history and helped boost him to a third-round pick.

 

The former Seminole assistant is beginning his second stint with the Bulldogs.

Former Florida State football offensive coordinator James Coley has accepted the wide receivers coaching job at Georgia. He initially agreed to work for South Carolina in the same position but was led away to Athens.

Coley served under former Florida State head coach Jimbo Fisher either as a grad assistant, position coach, or offensive coordinator in three separate stints (LSU, ’03-’04; FSU ’10-’12; TAMU, ’20-’23).

He also was hired as a tight ends coach and a recruiting coordinator by Bobby Bowden in 2008.

His most notable years with the Seminoles came during his three-year stretch as the offensive coordinator from ’10-’12. He coached three quarterbacks selected in the first round including Christian Ponder, EJ Manuel, and Jameis Winston.

Winston, of course, won a Heisman Trophy and went No. 1 overall in the 2015 NFL Draft.

In 2010 and 2011, Coley and Fisher’s offense averaged over 30 points and 360 yards a game. However, the big jump came in 2012 as the ’Noles averaged just under 40 points and a whopping 470 yards a game.

Moreover, Coley’s recruiting expertise landed FSU the number one and number two recruiting classes in 2011 and 2012 respectively, per ESPN’s rankings.

This is Coley’s second stint with the Bulldogs as he served as the wide receivers coach, the quarterbacks coach, an offensive coordinator, and an assistant head coach under Kirby Smart.

The former Seminole OC graduated from Florida State in 1997. He has never been a head coach at any level, from high school to the NFL.

 

The Georgia Bulldogs have seen a handful of coaching departures following the 2023 season and have begun to plug the holes left by those who have taken jobs elsewhere. Their latest addition to their coaching staff comes in the form of James Coley, who will be taking over as the team’s wide receivers coach. Bulldog fans may have some trepidations about Coley’s hire due to his previous stint with the team, particularly the 2019 season where he served as the team’s offensive coordinator. The Bulldogs average just over 30 points per game on offense and were often forced to rely on their elite defense to win games. Coley was dismissed from his duties following the season. While reservations around Coley as a play-caller may be somewhat warranted, Coley’s job will not be to run the Bulldogs offense. Instead, his main task will be recruiting and developing talent at the wide receiver position. Something that Coley has excellent experience with. Coley is renowned for his ability to recruit talent, particularly in the southeastern region of the United States, and has been complimented by numerous coaches for his ability to work with others. The Georgia Bulldogs have struggled to land a five-star player, as well as produce a first-round pick at the receiver position. However, with the hiring of James Coley, the Bulldogs will likely be much more likely to end this trend.

 

 

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