University of Georgia Athletics
Quick Chat: Ladd McConkey
September 10, 2021 | Football, The Frierson Files
By John Frierson
Staff Writer
Back in his days at North Murray High School, Ladd McConkey did it all on the football field. On offense, he split time at quarterback, running back and receiver. On defense, he was in the secondary. On special teams, he was a return man and a punter. Now that he's a redshirt freshman on the Georgia football team, his games aren't quite as jam-packed.
A wide receiver from Chatsworth, Ga., McConkey started in the Bulldogs' season-opening win over Clemson last week and caught two passes for 12 yards. During a recent Quick Chat, McConkey talked about his love of the outdoors, going against his big brother, and much more. Here's some of what he had to say:
Frierson: Looking at your bio, it seems like you did just about everything on your high school team except play on the line. What was it likely playing on offense, defense and special teams and being involved in every part of the game?
McConkey: It really was fun. I honestly didn't come off the field but for maybe a few snaps every game. That's how a lot of us were, really. Growing up, we all played on the same team and we all knew our roles, so when that time came it was kind of, whatever you had to do, you had to do.
It really was fun getting back there at quarterback. I'd throw it, run it a little bit, it was fun.
Frierson: When you're so used to having the ball in your hands so much, what was it like to come to college and only focus on one thing?
McConkey: It definitely was different. Last year, I didn't dress (out for games) until the Missouri game, the last couple of games of the season. It was tough at times, but I knew that I had to put my head down and work. Playing quarterback for my whole senior year, I didn't really get those reps at receiver that I needed. Coming here and going against all of the defensive backs, it definitely helped me a lot.
Frierson: What other sports did you play growing up?
McConkey: I loved basketball, that was my baby growing up. I remember talking to my receivers coach my freshman year. He was like, "Would you rather go to a big D-I school to play football or basketball?" And I was like, "I want to play basketball." As I got older, I kind of knew that where my path was leading me.
Basketball was really my main thing for a long time and I also played baseball when I was younger.
Frierson: What's something you could eat every day and never get tired of it?
McConkey: Probably my mom's chicken casserole. I'd eat that about every day, probably. She didn't even start making it until recently but for my birthday and when I went off to college, that's what she was making me. I could eat it all the time.
Frierson: How are you in the kitchen? Can you cook?
McConkey: I'm working on it a little bit with the (UGA sports nutrition) Grab 'N' Go chefs. They let us go back there and cook a little bit [laughs], but other than that I'm a little iffy.
Frierson: You seem like a guy that's probably good at most every sport he's tried, but is there one that you just couldn't do very well?
McConkey: I can't kick, if that counts. Soccer, there's no way. I'd be at recess and stuff and that was one of the sports where I was like, there's absolutely no way.
Frierson: You turned into a pretty good punter though.
McConkey: I did punt, but I did a rugby punt. If they didn't rush, I was running it. I was back there to fake it if they didn't come up on me.
Frierson: If you could travel anywhere in the world on someone else's dime, where would you go and who would you take with you?
McConkey: I'd like to go out West and go on a hunt out there somewhere. That's something me, my dad and brother have always talked about — going out West and killing a big moose or elk or something. I feel like that would be something pretty cool.
Frierson: Is hunting how you get away from things and take your mind off of school and football?
McConkey: Yeah, we do that a lot. On our bye week, I'll be down at our hunting club. That's where I'll be. I grew up always hunting and I love getting out there.
Frierson: What was your favorite toy when you were a kid?
McConkey: Honestly, probably a basketball or a football, or a baseball. My brother's five years older than me but ask anybody you talk to, he had me out there at 3 years old throwing a hard baseball at me. If I didn't catch it he'd make me do pushups or something like that [laughs]. That's just how me and my brother grew up, outside playing one-on-one or doing something.
Frierson: How much did he toughen you up?
McConkey: Oh, yeah, a bunch. There's been multiple times we've been out on the court and it got heated [laughs].
Frierson: When did the playing field start to level a little bit? Do you remember the first time you beat him at something?
McConkey: I don't remember when but I've beaten him at basketball. He's a lot bigger than me still so he has that "I'm the big brother" mentality. We got after it a lot; it would go back and forth, really, but when he wanted to turn it on — he's five years older than me so when he really wanted to, there wasn't much I could do about it.
Frierson: Who is the funniest guy on the team? And this season I feel like I have to say the funniest guy besides Jordan Davis. He seems to be the runaway winner so far.
McConkey: Jordan's one, for sure. I'd say Darnell (Washington), he's one. Jermaine Burton's really funny, and one of my roommates, Cade Brock — all of those guys will give you a laugh when you need one.
(This Q&A was lightly edited for length and clarity.)
Staff Writer
Back in his days at North Murray High School, Ladd McConkey did it all on the football field. On offense, he split time at quarterback, running back and receiver. On defense, he was in the secondary. On special teams, he was a return man and a punter. Now that he's a redshirt freshman on the Georgia football team, his games aren't quite as jam-packed.
A wide receiver from Chatsworth, Ga., McConkey started in the Bulldogs' season-opening win over Clemson last week and caught two passes for 12 yards. During a recent Quick Chat, McConkey talked about his love of the outdoors, going against his big brother, and much more. Here's some of what he had to say:
Frierson: Looking at your bio, it seems like you did just about everything on your high school team except play on the line. What was it likely playing on offense, defense and special teams and being involved in every part of the game?
McConkey: It really was fun. I honestly didn't come off the field but for maybe a few snaps every game. That's how a lot of us were, really. Growing up, we all played on the same team and we all knew our roles, so when that time came it was kind of, whatever you had to do, you had to do.
It really was fun getting back there at quarterback. I'd throw it, run it a little bit, it was fun.
Frierson: When you're so used to having the ball in your hands so much, what was it like to come to college and only focus on one thing?
McConkey: It definitely was different. Last year, I didn't dress (out for games) until the Missouri game, the last couple of games of the season. It was tough at times, but I knew that I had to put my head down and work. Playing quarterback for my whole senior year, I didn't really get those reps at receiver that I needed. Coming here and going against all of the defensive backs, it definitely helped me a lot.
Frierson: What other sports did you play growing up?
McConkey: I loved basketball, that was my baby growing up. I remember talking to my receivers coach my freshman year. He was like, "Would you rather go to a big D-I school to play football or basketball?" And I was like, "I want to play basketball." As I got older, I kind of knew that where my path was leading me.
Basketball was really my main thing for a long time and I also played baseball when I was younger.
Frierson: What's something you could eat every day and never get tired of it?
McConkey: Probably my mom's chicken casserole. I'd eat that about every day, probably. She didn't even start making it until recently but for my birthday and when I went off to college, that's what she was making me. I could eat it all the time.
Frierson: How are you in the kitchen? Can you cook?
McConkey: I'm working on it a little bit with the (UGA sports nutrition) Grab 'N' Go chefs. They let us go back there and cook a little bit [laughs], but other than that I'm a little iffy.
Frierson: You seem like a guy that's probably good at most every sport he's tried, but is there one that you just couldn't do very well?
McConkey: I can't kick, if that counts. Soccer, there's no way. I'd be at recess and stuff and that was one of the sports where I was like, there's absolutely no way.
Frierson: You turned into a pretty good punter though.
McConkey: I did punt, but I did a rugby punt. If they didn't rush, I was running it. I was back there to fake it if they didn't come up on me.
Frierson: If you could travel anywhere in the world on someone else's dime, where would you go and who would you take with you?
McConkey: I'd like to go out West and go on a hunt out there somewhere. That's something me, my dad and brother have always talked about — going out West and killing a big moose or elk or something. I feel like that would be something pretty cool.
Frierson: Is hunting how you get away from things and take your mind off of school and football?
McConkey: Yeah, we do that a lot. On our bye week, I'll be down at our hunting club. That's where I'll be. I grew up always hunting and I love getting out there.
Frierson: What was your favorite toy when you were a kid?
McConkey: Honestly, probably a basketball or a football, or a baseball. My brother's five years older than me but ask anybody you talk to, he had me out there at 3 years old throwing a hard baseball at me. If I didn't catch it he'd make me do pushups or something like that [laughs]. That's just how me and my brother grew up, outside playing one-on-one or doing something.
Frierson: How much did he toughen you up?
McConkey: Oh, yeah, a bunch. There's been multiple times we've been out on the court and it got heated [laughs].
Frierson: When did the playing field start to level a little bit? Do you remember the first time you beat him at something?
McConkey: I don't remember when but I've beaten him at basketball. He's a lot bigger than me still so he has that "I'm the big brother" mentality. We got after it a lot; it would go back and forth, really, but when he wanted to turn it on — he's five years older than me so when he really wanted to, there wasn't much I could do about it.
Frierson: Who is the funniest guy on the team? And this season I feel like I have to say the funniest guy besides Jordan Davis. He seems to be the runaway winner so far.
McConkey: Jordan's one, for sure. I'd say Darnell (Washington), he's one. Jermaine Burton's really funny, and one of my roommates, Cade Brock — all of those guys will give you a laugh when you need one.
(This Q&A was lightly edited for length and clarity.)
Assistant Sports Communications Director John Frierson is the staff writer for the UGA Athletic Association and curator of the ITA Men's Tennis Hall of Fame. You can find his work at: Frierson Files. He's also on Twitter: @FriersonFiles and @ITAHallofFame.
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