Wynn on Mecole Hardman: "He's a weapon ... y'all will see"
Radi Nabulsi
Mecole Hardman hasn’t been allowed to speak with Georgia beat writers since enrolling in school last year.
That doesn’t mean others haven’t been willing to talk about him.
After being moved from cornerback to wide receiver, he’s apparently making quite the impression.
“He’s a weapon,” left tackle Isaiah Wynn said. “That’s all I’ve got to say about that. He’s a weapon … y’all will see.”
Even running back Nick Chubb, in his typically stoic way, described Hardman in very simple terms.
“Speed,” Chubb said. “Lot of speed.”
Head coach Kirby Smart said it’s Hardman’s improved knowledge of the offense that’s helping him get the most out of his abilities.
“It’s not that he’s faster than he was in the spring but he’s more confident, which makes him faster,” Smart said. “He hears the call and knows what to do. He’s had some pretty spectacular plays. I still think he needs to work on his hands and natural catching the ball. But he’s a good athlete. I think he’s found a good home.”
Wide receiver may not be the only place Georgia uses Hardman, who played quarterback and safety during his high school career at Elbert County High.
Hardman, along with running back Sony Michel, have been tabbed by Kirby Smart as the team’s top two candidates to return kicks.
That’s not all.
Hardman has also brought another element to the Bulldog backfield as a quarterback in Georgia’s Wild Dawg package.
“Maybe if Mecole does a good job, it’s something that somebody has to defend, and the more things you give somebody to defend, the more challenging it is,” Smart said. “Hey, Mecole still has to prove that he can do it. How much we’re doing it really doesn’t matter.”
Count quarterback Jacob Eason as someone who can’t wait to see for himself what Hardman is able to do.
The two have developed quite the repertoire.
“He’s brought a little energy. He’s fast, he’s a loud guy. He’s a playmaker,” Eason said. “Not there that there wasn’t a little energy before but Mecole brings a little spice. It’s good to have him there.”
He just needs to produce.
Smart said he’ll get his opportunities.
“You got to find ways to get Mecole the ball and hopefully we’ll be able to do that,” Smart said. “Hopefully, the better he goes up and catches it, and makes plays vertically down the field, it will take the top off of some of these defenses. We’ve struggled to do that in the past.”
