Look for UGA’s Jeb Blazevich to Star in 2015
By John Buhler

Benjamin Watson, Leonard Pope, Orson Charles, Arthur Lynch. Georgia football has developed some outstanding tight ends over the years. And I believe sophomore Jeb Blazevich becomes that next great UGA TE in 2015. Blazevich played in all 13 games last fall as a true freshman out of Charlotte, NC. Though he only had 18 catches for 269 yards and 2 touchdowns, I liked what I saw out of Jeb in 2014 for the Dawgs.
Live Feed
Dawn of the Dawg
In addition to already having in-game experience as a second-year player with Georgia, I think he gets more looks in new OC Brian Schottenheimer’s offense as a primary possession receiver. Schotty loves using tight ends in his offensive scheme. He’s quick to note that St. Louis Rams TE Lance Kendricks was one of his favorite receiving targets he worked with in the NFL. I can see Blazevich assuming a Kendricks-type of role with UGA in 2015.
Though true freshman Terry Godwin can become a Tavon Austin-type of WR for UGA, it still may take some time for the Callaway native to acclimate to playing in the SEC. While Malcolm Mitchell and Justin Scott-Wesley can offer a deep threat presence to UGA’s passing game, Schottenheimer prefers to go with the sure thing with pass attempts between the hash marks. I think many of the catches that went to Michael Bennett and Chris Conley in Mike Bobo’s offense last year might find their way into Blazevich’s arms.
While I haven’t seen freshman Jackson Harris in action for the Dawgs, Blazevich seems to have the most upside of any UGA TE. With Schottenheimer’s offensive system and a new starting QB for the Dawgs, I really think that tight end play is a crucial element to Georgia’s passing game in 2015. I’d love to see two-tight end sets with Blazevich and either Harris or senior Jay Rome lined up next to our senior tackles John Theus and Kolton Houston. It’s a way that I see Georgia becoming very physical in the receiving game. We know about the running game and the flash of our wide receivers, but if the tight ends progress, especially Jeb Blazevich, Georgia might not have to worry so much about its new starting quarterback.
I think Blazevich gets at least 30 catches for 500 yards and 5 touchdowns in 2015. If he outperforms these projections and leads the Dawgs’ TE group, he could be in consideration for the John Mackey Award at the end of the season. Expect big things for TE Coach John Lilly’s group Between the Hedges this fall.