Georgia WR Godwin excited to be a senior

Published 3:16 am Friday, July 20, 2018

Terry Godwin decided to return for his senior season Jan. 15, joining other NFL draft-eligible juniors like defensive back Deandre Baker and defensive end Jonathan Ledbetter in staying in Athens.

Godwin’s decision to return is synonymous with the rest of the seniors on the team: wanting to build on the success Georgia had last season, and finish what it couldn’t accomplish last year.

“We had a special year last year, I feel like I know for a fact that this season is going to be special as well,” Godwin said. “I want to be a part of this Georgia team as long as I can.”

A lot of what made last year “special” for Georgia included a lot of what Godwin did. He finished the 2017 season with 639 yards and six touchdowns, with a myriad of highlight plays.

The biggest of which came on Sept. 9 against Notre Dame. Then-freshman quarterback Jake Fromm threw a pass to the back of the end zone that seemed out of reach, yet Godwin was able to make the catch with only one hand.

“Very elite hands,” coach Kirby Smart said of Godwin. “He understands the game of football.”

A lot of change for Georgia occurred during the period following the 2017 season and now. Leaders departed and new leaders have emerged and are expanding their roles. Last season, Godwin was a leader solely among the receivers, but he is now working to expand that role to include the entire team.

The senior noted that he has the spring practices and the offseason to work on becoming more vocal, rather than just leading by example. He was seen during spring practice often yelling at his teammates when a ball was dropped, wanting them to do better.

That has translated over to his relationship with the freshman coming into the program.

“These young guys that are coming in, they are looking up to us older guys,” Godwin said. “I’m trying to give them every tool that I know.”

Junior defensive back J.R. Reed goes up against Godwin each day in practice. According to him, they learn alot from each other, as Godwin has been in the program longer than Reed.

Godwin will teach Reed things that they are going to do on offense so that the defensive backs can work on implementing techniques to guard athletic receivers. On the flip side, Reed and the other defensive backs will teach Godwin the things they do on defense.

“He knows he is leader, and he knows his role this year is even bigger,” Reed said. “He knows how to reach guys and lead guys in different directions.”

Smart has known Godwin since the ninth grade. He’s seen him grow, mature and had the confidence in him to represent Georgia at the 2018 SEC Media Days.

While Godwin is tasked with leading Georgia at the receiver position this upcoming season, it’s experience, but more importantly, flexibility that makes him an asset that would’ve been hard to replace had he declared for the NFL draft.

“You can put [him] in any position, and it works for him,” Smart said. “His leadership in that room with wideouts has been tremendous for us.”  

Printed with permission from The Red & Black independent student media organization in Athens, Ga.; redandblack.com/sports.