Ladd McConkey Talks 2023 Georgia Football
Ladd McConkey Talks 2023 Georgia Football
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00:00 [BLANK_AUDIO]
00:10 >> Yeah, there's been plenty of development in your game since North Murray High
00:14 School.
00:14 I'm curious your thoughts on maybe one specific area that you feel like you've
00:17 gotten the best or better at.
00:18 >> Probably just like, I guess I would say route running, controlling my body.
00:23 I feel like I've always been athletic, but
00:25 I didn't really know how to use it running my routes.
00:28 So yeah, I feel like that's probably one area I've developed probably the most.
00:31 [BLANK_AUDIO]
00:36 >> We talked to Arian a few minutes ago,
00:38 he was talking about feeling pretty good going into camp.
00:40 What does he bring to this offense when he's out there and
00:43 he's an option for the quarterback?
00:45 >> Anytime he's on the field, it scares the DBs, he's a deep threat.
00:50 He can take a deep literally any single play, so
00:53 just gives us another element, take the top off.
00:57 He can run routes too, get underneath, catch a little screen, take it.
01:01 80, I mean, track runner, and when he can run that fast, it scares a lot of people.
01:05 [BLANK_AUDIO]
01:10 >> When we first saw you, you were limping around pretty good and
01:14 everything looked like you played with a lot of pain toward the end of the year.
01:17 Did you have to get any kind of postseason procedures and
01:20 what is your health level at this moment?
01:24 >> Yeah, no, really just kinda rest was the biggest thing for me.
01:28 Getting in the training room, doing rehab, staying consistent with it.
01:31 And I mean, I feel really good right now, not having any issues with anything, so
01:36 I'm looking forward to it.
01:37 Obviously, probably when the season comes along, I mean, bumps and bruises,
01:41 it happens, especially in the SEC.
01:43 So yeah, but I feel good now and hopefully it'll stay that way.
01:46 >> I feel like we've seen a lot of your community service work and
01:52 getting out in the community to the point that you're even being recognized for
01:55 awards and being up for those.
01:57 I mean, what does it mean for you to be able to make such a big impact in
02:00 your community and then also be recognized on a national stage for it?
02:03 >> Yeah, it's a huge honor being able to kinda do more than just football.
02:09 Cuz at the end of the day, I mean, we're not just football players.
02:12 But I mean, there's so many other guys that do it with me.
02:15 Like we went to Camp Sunshine, and there were like ten of us that went.
02:19 So it's not just me, but yeah, it's cool to be recognized and
02:24 I'll be put up for those awards.
02:25 >> Two questions for Mayla.
02:29 The first, you were talking about different elements being added to this
02:31 offense.
02:32 What makes you confident, I know you guys are going through some quarterback
02:35 things, that you guys could take a step forward this year on offense?
02:38 >> Yeah, really, we had a lot of guys come back on the perimeter backfield.
02:44 I mean, and then our quarterbacks, it's not their first year in the system.
02:48 They've been around, they've taken so many reps in practice.
02:51 I mean, y'all know just being in our practice,
02:53 y'all know how the intensity of it and the demand that they're put on.
02:57 So yeah, I'm confident in it, confident in our coaches.
03:01 So I'm looking forward to it.
03:03 >> And then real quick, since we saw you last in January,
03:06 anyone call you Andrew now?
03:07 >> Sometimes, so someone today, we had a new trainer.
03:12 And they're like, what's your name?
03:13 I was like, I'm Ladd.
03:13 And then Chris, our other trainer was like, tell me your real name.
03:17 I'm like, no, I get out of that.
03:19 No, it's a little joke, but nothing too, nothing serious.
03:22 >> I kind of piggyback off the question two questions ago.
03:27 Just how did that come about when you surprised that kid?
03:30 I'm assuming he was from your party for Christmas.
03:32 How did that all come about?
03:34 And just how cool was that to see the smile on his face?
03:36 >> Yeah, so I saw on Facebook a little video of him opening my jersey.
03:42 Then he started crying, breaking down.
03:44 So my mom reached out to their family.
03:46 And then I was like, hey, I'm glad, I'd love to sign his jersey if y'all can come
03:50 to the house or we can meet y'all or something.
03:52 So they just pulled over to my house and I walked out there and surprised him.
03:55 So it was pretty cool to be able to do that for him.
03:58 >> Hey, Ladd, I'm curious, have you been following Stetson out there with the Rams
04:04 and communicating with them at all?
04:06 And just how excited are you gonna be whenever he does get the opportunity?
04:09 >> Yeah, I mean, I've been obviously seeing those videos on Twitter and
04:12 stuff, talked to him a little bit.
04:13 So I think he loves it out there.
04:16 He's a competitor.
04:17 So I know he's gonna make the most out of every situation.
04:20 So yeah, I'm looking forward to getting a shot and
04:24 I know I'm gonna make the most of it, I'm excited.
04:27 >> What stands out to you about y'all's receiving room this year?
04:30 And is this the deepest you feel like this room has been since you've been here?
04:34 >> Yeah, really what stands out is our depth.
04:37 We have three guys at every position that can go in.
04:40 I feel like I won't skip a beat.
04:42 Obviously, we all have our different ways of playing, different styles of playing.
04:47 But there's so many guys that can go in there and contribute.
04:50 So that's exciting.
04:52 I mean, stay fresh the whole time.
04:54 I don't think DBs can rotate like that.
04:56 So if we can always have fresh guys in there and be able to play fast,
04:59 it'll be special.
05:00 >> Ladd, there's a quote that goes something like, laughter is the cipher key,
05:06 wherewith we decipher the whole man.
05:10 Talk about the importance of keeping the team loose when you're,
05:16 go through the grind of the season.
05:18 And then who on the team is sort of that type of leader?
05:23 >> Yeah, I mean, really just kind of staying up, get through the grind day in,
05:28 day out, but just keeping a smile on your face, having some laughter about it.
05:32 And I really think Dan Jackson's a guy that kind of does that for us.
05:37 He's always got a smile on his face, can keep you laughing, but
05:40 also be serious when he's being.
05:42 >> Yeah, Ladd, Kirby yesterday was talking about Carson's very laid back,
05:48 even keeled.
05:49 Just from your perspective, what is his personality like in the locker room and
05:52 in the local house, and kind of compare to what Stetson's been up to
05:54 the last couple years?
05:56 >> Well, I mean, they're two different people, obviously, but
05:59 Carson's a guy that really just, like I said, comes to work.
06:03 He's confident in himself, and that's the biggest thing.
06:07 When he gets his confidence and he gets rolling, no one's stopping him.
06:10 He's gonna be a huge part of our offense, whether it's him,
06:14 whether it's Brock, whether it's Gunner.
06:17 I've got so much confidence in all those guys.
06:19 And I feel like to play quarterback, you gotta have a little swagger about you, and
06:22 those guys got it.
06:23 >> Ladd, since Lovett's come in, can you talk about the dynamics that he's brought
06:30 in terms of maybe another guy that can push or challenge you?
06:35 And also, I guess just to follow up, Arian, drop your name out there as maybe
06:38 being one of the guys that pushes him speed-wise.
06:40 Do you see yourself near the top of the speed chart, or
06:43 some of the other guys that have impressed you with the wheels?
06:46 >> I'd like to think so.
06:47 I can run a little bit, but I mean, some of those guys got different speed,
06:52 like CJ Smith, Arian, those track guys, Anthony Evans, freshman, Dawn, like you said.
06:57 I'd love to see that race.
07:00 It'd be a good one, I'm sure.
07:02 Those guys might get me a little bit.
07:04 But yeah, like I was talking about earlier,
07:06 there's so many guys with so many different skill sets.
07:09 And Dawn coming in is gonna be a huge factor for us this year.
07:12 >> Ladd, correct me if I'm wrong, but I'm pretty sure you cracked the lineup as
07:17 a slot receiver, and you've kind of grown into more of a seed receiver type role.
07:22 What's that transition been like, and
07:23 I guess what was the biggest difference from going inside out?
07:26 >> Yeah, so I did start, I guess, that retro freshman year as a slot,
07:31 kind of halfway through the season with injuries and stuff, moved outside.
07:34 But how we do it, like 11 and 12 personnel, I'm still in the slot a lot when we go 12.
07:40 So really it's kind of being able to figure out my game,
07:44 get a lot more press outside, a lot more off cover from the inside.
07:46 So it's different, but in different routes, obviously.
07:51 But good thing is I get a record of practice, so
07:53 I can kind of see it and feel it before I go out there and play a game.
07:55 [BLANK_AUDIO]
08:01 >> I was asking this, first of all, we've been going for the three team.
08:04 Last year, Kirby came in and said, we're not gonna be the hunted,
08:08 we're gonna be the hunter.
08:10 What's sort of the mindset coming into this year with the chance to make
08:14 real history with the third straight national championship?
08:17 How do you get motivated and kind of build off of what you did last season?
08:23 >> I mean, this team is, like so we harped last year that that team was different
08:27 than the year before, and this team's different from both of those.
08:31 So just kind of taking it a day at a time.
08:32 We have our own motivation, cuz we wanna do it ourselves.
08:35 I mean, there's a bunch of guys that came in that may not have played last year or
08:40 weren't even here last year.
08:41 So we're a totally different team.
08:43 Coach Smart has used the motto, better never rest.
08:45 So it's kind of taking it a day at a time, not looking ahead, and
08:49 now I think the rest will take care of itself when we get there.
08:52 >> Can I just a follow up on that?
08:54 Do you ever allow that though, something that has never been done,
08:57 at least in the Polo era, to win three straight titles?
09:00 How cool that would be?
09:01 Do you ever allow yourself to sort of think what that might be like at the end
09:04 of the year?
09:04 >> I mean, obviously, people talk about it, and
09:07 I mean, it's something that would definitely be cool.
09:09 But I feel like just getting a national championship is the best feeling,
09:13 whether it's a one-peat, two-peat, three-peat, whatever.
09:15 Just winning, I feel like, trumps it all.
09:18 >> Glad you guys put inside, slide, return punts,
09:22 take a handoff side of the backfield.
09:24 Going into this year, what are you looking to add or
09:26 improve on to your game, given you've already do so much for this offense?
09:30 >> Really just be more consistent with my routes.
09:34 I mean, catching Billy, everything, overall game blocking,
09:38 just be more consistent.
09:40 That's the main thing I'm trying to focus on this year.
09:42 >> Any more questions for Webb?
09:51 >> There's been NFL draft mocks that have already come out with
09:55 Lavin Conkey being a third or fourth round draft pick.
09:58 Thoughts on being an NFL football player, and
10:01 what would 17-year-old Lavin Conkey think about that?
10:04 >> Yeah, I mean, obviously, that's the goal since, I mean, since you're little,
10:07 I feel like everyone wants to go play in the league.
10:10 So yeah, but that doesn't happen unless I take care of my business here.
10:13 So I could take it a day at a time, do my thing.
10:17 And when that time comes, hopefully I'd set myself up for
10:21 the best position possible.
10:23 And I mean, 17-year-old, not knowing where I was gonna go to college and
10:27 having this opportunity, be pretty excited.
10:29 So that's how I try to go out there and, I mean, approach it like it's my last day.
10:35 Like I could not come out there and play again tomorrow.
10:37 So it's pretty cool to think about that.
10:39 >> Got one more on the far side.
10:41 >> Tyler Williams, Z Hanes, Anthony Evans,
10:43 what have you seen from the incoming freshmen so far?
10:46 >> Yeah, those guys have done a tremendous job.
10:49 I mean, they were here for spring.
10:50 So now they're kind of learning the playbook more.
10:52 They can play faster.
10:53 They're not thinking.
10:54 It's hard to play fast and do what you wanna do when you don't know what to do.
10:58 So the guys have done a great job.
10:59 I'm going up upstairs and watching films with our coaches, our GAs.
11:03 So I'm super excited to see what they're gonna do this fall camp.
11:06 >> Thanks a lot.
11:08 >> Thank you.
11:08 - Dude, that's a lot of you.