Dominic Lovett made splash at Missouri. Now wideout ready to launch with Georgia football
Georgia football’s defensive players saw firsthand in the closest call the Bulldogs had in the regular season last year what it is getting in Dominic Lovett.
The Missouri transfer wide receiver went from going up against the Bulldogs when he led the Tigers with 6 catches for 84 yards in a 26-22 Georgia win to joining the two-time national champions.
“He’s real versatile, explosive,” nickelback Tykee Smith said. “Let him get off the line and he’ll do what he does once he gets the ball in his hands.”
The additions of Lovett and Mississippi State transfer Rara Thomas in December softened the blow of the January departure of playmaking wide receiver AD Mitchell to Texas.
Lovett bolsters a Georgia offense that returns All-American tight end Brock Bowers and leading wide receiver Ladd McConkey.
More: How Buccaneers head coach Todd Bowles was sold on Georgia football for his son Troy
More: Brett Thorson, after trip back to Australia, gears up for Year 2 with Georgia football
“There’s so many different ways that we can attack a defense,” quarterback Carson Beck said.
The 5-foot-10, 179-pound Lovett is a second-team preseason All-SEC pick along with McConkey by Athlon. Lindy’s puts the two as preseason third team.
Lovett, from Venice, Ill., had a breakout sophomore season at Missouri when he led the Tigers with 56 catches for 846 yards and three touchdowns in 2022. He’s the third leading returner in receiving yards in the SEC.
“A really good player,” Missouri coach Eliah Drinkwitz said at the SEC spring meetings. “A great young man. A high character man. Works really hard. Obviously was really good for us.”
Georgia’s wide receiving corps could be shorthanded early in the season if players who have had off-field incidents this offseason face suspensions.
Marcus Rosmey-Jacksaint was arrested for reckless driving after police allege, he drove 90 miles per hour in a 45 mph zone and DeNylon Morrisette for DUI drugs, driving too fast for conditions and following too closely.
Thomas entered a pretrial diversion program to resolve a misdemeanor charge of battery/family violence.
Georgia coach Kirby Smart hasn’t publicly announced any player discipline in those cases. Georgia opens with a pair of games it will be heavy favorites in UT-Martin and Ball State before starting SEC play against South Carolina.
Lovett already was on display at G-Day when he showed an ability to make defenders miss in the open field
He took a swing pass from Brock Vandagriff and cut back to slide by cornerback Nyland Green and broke a tackle from safety Javon Bullard on a 20-yard gain.
At Missouri, Lovett lined up in the slot on 245 of 292 pass plays, according to Pro Football Focus.
Lovett said he was sold on Georgia when wide receivers coach Bryan McClendon flew in to visit him after he put his name in the transfer portal.
“I fell in love with how ya’ll practice, how physical y’all practice,” Lovett, who has not been made available to reporters by Georgia since transferring, told defensive lineman Warren Brinson in a video posted by The Players’ Lounge. “When I sat down with Coach Smart, he was like I can offer you the best coaching, the best team to be on.”
Lovett jumped at the chance. He’ll see his former Missouri teammates Nov. 4 in Athens.
This article originally appeared on Athens Banner-Herald: Missouri transfer Dominic Lovett ready to impact with UGA football
