Sophomore Surge: How Big is Year Two for Oscar Delp?

Georgia tight end Oscar Delp could be in store for a massive 2023 season as his role will progress in the upcoming season.

There arguably isn't another position on Georgia's roster that has evolved more over the last three seasons than the tight end position. Darnell Washington got the ball rolling for the Bulldogs, and he was followed by Brock Bowers. It has since resulted in Georgia being the beneficiary of some of the most elite tight-end play in the country. 

Even after landing both Bowers and Washington though, Georgia didn't stop there. They kept the momentum going on the recruiting trail and proceeded to reel in Oscar Delp, Pearce Sprulin, and Lawson Luckie in back-to-back classes. Landing high-end tight prospects has now become a trend at the University of Georgia, and with Washington now off to the NFL, the success on the trail will really come to fruition this season. 

Washington's departure to the NFL now opens the door for the next young tight end on the depth chart to get his name into the mix. And that name is none other than sophomore Oscar Delp. A former four-star prospect, the second-best tight end in the 2022 class, and the 9th ranked prospect in the state of Georgia. He saw action as a reserve in the majority of games last season, but this year he will have a chance to become a consistent face on offense. 

Georgia tight end Oscar Delp, Photo by Tony Walsh/UGAA

Part of what made Bowers and Washington such a potent duo was how they differentiated in skill sets. It's why the Bulldogs ran so much 12-personnel in 2022 because both Bowers and Washington being on the field provided a major mismatch for Georgia offensively. Delp however brings a very similar skill set to what Bowers is — a match-up nightmare in space. One presumes, that will provide a different look on offense than what the Bulldogs have been accustomed to over the last two years where they had a transcendent blocker in Washington and a transcendent playmaker in Bowers.  

While Delp's in-game action in 2022 was limited, he found himself being plugged in during some important moments of the season. Specifically, against Ohio State in the college football playoff, Washington got taken out of the game due to an ankle injury, and Delp's number got called. He didn't record a single receiving stat in that game, but he stepped up in the biggest game of the season and rose to the occasion as a true freshman. 

The 2022 season provided just a taste of what is to come for Delp in a Georgia uniform. And as his role looks to take a massive step forward this upcoming season, he might just explode onto the scene and prove that Georgia's tight end room is in good hands even when Bowers ultimately makes the switch to the NFL. 

Other Georgia News:

• 2024 QB Dylan Raiola Set to Visit Georgia and Others this Spring
• Nolan Smith Discusses Bulldogs' Future at Linebacker Position
• BREAKING: Georgia Defensive Lineman no Longer with the Team

Join the community:

Follow Brooks Austin on Twitter: @BrooksAustinBA

Subscribe to our YouTube Page HERE.

You can follow us for future coverage by clicking "Follow" on the top right-hand corner of the page. Also, be sure to like us on Facebook @BulldogMaven & follow us on Twitter at @DawgsDailyFN