University of Georgia Athletics
Quick Chat: Ladd McConkey
November 30, 2022 | Football, The Frierson Files
By John Frierson
Staff Writer
Ladd McConkey typically covers a lot of ground during a Georgia football game. From catching passes to returning punts, with perhaps a rushing attempt thrown in there also, McConkey doesn't get much time on the bench. And that's just how he likes it.
After catching 31 passes in 15 games as a redshirt freshman last season, McConkey shares the team lead of 46 with tight end Brock Bowers heading into Saturday's SEC Championship Game against LSU. Bowers has 645 yards receiving, just ahead of McConkey's 606. The two also have six carries each, with Bowers scoring on half of them and McConkey with two rushing touchdowns, highlighted by the 70-yarder at Mississippi State earlier this month.
During a Quick Chat before practice Monday, McConkey talked about doing a bit of everything for the Bulldogs, how he relaxes away from school and football, and much more.
Here's some of what he had to say:
Frierson: What does it feel like to be at this point after being in the exact same position a year ago? Is that helpful in any way?
McConkey: It's helpful in the sense that we've played in big games before, so we kind of know what it's going to be about. Mercedes-Benz (Stadium) is going to be rocking as it always is at the SEC Championship, especially with our fans and LSU's fans. In a way, that, I feel like, is definitely going to help us.
We've still got to go out and do it. We're separate from last year, so we want to make our own mark — and that's what we're planning on doing.
Frierson: With all of the success over the past two seasons, how do you tune that out and not pay attention to it? You'd think you want to savor it, but I know you can't really pay attention to it, right?
McConkey: Our big thing right now is, we're focusing on this week. There are a bunch of us guys that have never won an SEC championship — played in the game before but haven't won it. That's what our coaches are harping on, how hard it is to win an SEC championship. That's what we're focusing on right now and hopefully we can go out and do that, and obviously set ourselves up for another goal.
The SEC East and the SEC championship are two of our goals that we set for ourselves every year.
Frierson: You've got the potential to amass quite a large ring collection. What do you do with the ones you have from last season?
McConkey: Mine are back home. They're not really on display or anything, my parents are taking care of them. They're at the house because I didn't want to bring them to Athens — I wouldn't want anything to happen to them.
If I put it on my finger, it's so bulky that I'm like, I don't even know where I'd wear this. Having it up for show is probably the best option, and maybe wear it on special occasions or something.
Frierson: Given the success and impact you've had on this team the past two years, at what point did you realize that was possible?
McConkey: I feel like last year, I started the first game and just kind of built off of that. I knew if I kept my head down and kept making plays, I'd have the coaches gain more confidence in me. I feel like that's a huge thing. I feel like there's a difference between making plays in practice and making plays in games.
You've got to do it in practice to show them, but once you can show them you can do it in games, that's a huge step. I felt like if I kept doing that, kept grinding, kept grinding, then hopefully it would pay off for me.
Frierson: Of all of your big plays this season, was the 70-yard run against Mississippi State the most fun or memorable?
McConkey: [Laughs] It's funny, that was like the second play out of halftime. It was a little chilly down there, being a night game, and I was stiff. When they called that play, I was like, I've got to get loosened up.
That was a good one, and I feel like the one in the Tennessee game (a 37-yard touchdown catch) was a really big one, too, for me. Especially in the environment that we had in that game. Those are the two that stand out in my mind right now.
Frierson: I remember the last time we talked, you went over all of the different positions you played in high school. And the fact that you hardly ever left the field. It seems like you're doing about as much as you can for Georgia. Do you enjoy being that busy in a game?
McConkey: Yeah, definitely. I don't really like sitting down. You can get a little tired at times, but that's why they condition us like crazy in practice, to be able to prepare for that. It's fun being on the field and I love being out there as much as I can.
Frierson: Because of all of the things that you do in a game, do you need to do extra conditioning in practice so that you're still fresh in the fourth quarter?
McConkey: I really just try to push when I'm at practice, because I know it's going to happen in a game. I'm not going to sit here and say that I run more after practice and do a lot of extra work. I just push when I'm in there because I know it's going to pay off in games.
Frierson: What do you do to get away from school and football?
McConkey: I hang out with my girlfriend a lot, and we just kind of hang out at the house or go eat or something like that. And I also spend time with my roommates — we're really tight, so whether it's hanging out at the house or going to eat or playing video games, that's how I get my mind off things. I also like to sleep a lot, as much as I can.
(This Q&A was lightly edited for length and clarity.)
Staff Writer
Ladd McConkey typically covers a lot of ground during a Georgia football game. From catching passes to returning punts, with perhaps a rushing attempt thrown in there also, McConkey doesn't get much time on the bench. And that's just how he likes it.
After catching 31 passes in 15 games as a redshirt freshman last season, McConkey shares the team lead of 46 with tight end Brock Bowers heading into Saturday's SEC Championship Game against LSU. Bowers has 645 yards receiving, just ahead of McConkey's 606. The two also have six carries each, with Bowers scoring on half of them and McConkey with two rushing touchdowns, highlighted by the 70-yarder at Mississippi State earlier this month.
During a Quick Chat before practice Monday, McConkey talked about doing a bit of everything for the Bulldogs, how he relaxes away from school and football, and much more.
Here's some of what he had to say:
Frierson: What does it feel like to be at this point after being in the exact same position a year ago? Is that helpful in any way?
McConkey: It's helpful in the sense that we've played in big games before, so we kind of know what it's going to be about. Mercedes-Benz (Stadium) is going to be rocking as it always is at the SEC Championship, especially with our fans and LSU's fans. In a way, that, I feel like, is definitely going to help us.
We've still got to go out and do it. We're separate from last year, so we want to make our own mark — and that's what we're planning on doing.
Frierson: With all of the success over the past two seasons, how do you tune that out and not pay attention to it? You'd think you want to savor it, but I know you can't really pay attention to it, right?
McConkey: Our big thing right now is, we're focusing on this week. There are a bunch of us guys that have never won an SEC championship — played in the game before but haven't won it. That's what our coaches are harping on, how hard it is to win an SEC championship. That's what we're focusing on right now and hopefully we can go out and do that, and obviously set ourselves up for another goal.
The SEC East and the SEC championship are two of our goals that we set for ourselves every year.
Frierson: You've got the potential to amass quite a large ring collection. What do you do with the ones you have from last season?
McConkey: Mine are back home. They're not really on display or anything, my parents are taking care of them. They're at the house because I didn't want to bring them to Athens — I wouldn't want anything to happen to them.
If I put it on my finger, it's so bulky that I'm like, I don't even know where I'd wear this. Having it up for show is probably the best option, and maybe wear it on special occasions or something.
Frierson: Given the success and impact you've had on this team the past two years, at what point did you realize that was possible?
McConkey: I feel like last year, I started the first game and just kind of built off of that. I knew if I kept my head down and kept making plays, I'd have the coaches gain more confidence in me. I feel like that's a huge thing. I feel like there's a difference between making plays in practice and making plays in games.
You've got to do it in practice to show them, but once you can show them you can do it in games, that's a huge step. I felt like if I kept doing that, kept grinding, kept grinding, then hopefully it would pay off for me.
Frierson: Of all of your big plays this season, was the 70-yard run against Mississippi State the most fun or memorable?
McConkey: [Laughs] It's funny, that was like the second play out of halftime. It was a little chilly down there, being a night game, and I was stiff. When they called that play, I was like, I've got to get loosened up.
That was a good one, and I feel like the one in the Tennessee game (a 37-yard touchdown catch) was a really big one, too, for me. Especially in the environment that we had in that game. Those are the two that stand out in my mind right now.
Frierson: I remember the last time we talked, you went over all of the different positions you played in high school. And the fact that you hardly ever left the field. It seems like you're doing about as much as you can for Georgia. Do you enjoy being that busy in a game?
McConkey: Yeah, definitely. I don't really like sitting down. You can get a little tired at times, but that's why they condition us like crazy in practice, to be able to prepare for that. It's fun being on the field and I love being out there as much as I can.
Frierson: Because of all of the things that you do in a game, do you need to do extra conditioning in practice so that you're still fresh in the fourth quarter?
McConkey: I really just try to push when I'm at practice, because I know it's going to happen in a game. I'm not going to sit here and say that I run more after practice and do a lot of extra work. I just push when I'm in there because I know it's going to pay off in games.
Frierson: What do you do to get away from school and football?
McConkey: I hang out with my girlfriend a lot, and we just kind of hang out at the house or go eat or something like that. And I also spend time with my roommates — we're really tight, so whether it's hanging out at the house or going to eat or playing video games, that's how I get my mind off things. I also like to sleep a lot, as much as I can.
(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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