Countdown to Canes Football: No. 23 Jacolby George
The third edition of Countdown to Canes has arrived. This player can help change the Miami offense this next season. Let’s dive right into the details.
Jacolby George
Size
: 6-foot, 176 pounds
Class
: Junior
Position
: Wide Receiver
High School
: Lauderhill (Fla.) Plantation
Background
Ranked by 247 Sports composite as the No. 175 player in the country for the class of 2021, George’s recruitment truly took off after he played fantastic during one-on-ones at the Miami Under Armour camp.
The Hurricanes were able to secure his verbal commitment on June 3, 2020. George has been a fluid and natural pass catcher since his high school days. His natural athleticism has helped him be a prime candidate to start next to Colbie Young and Xavier Restrepo this next season.
2022 Season
George did not play in five of the first six games. His best games were the road game versus Texas A&M when he caught 3 passes for 41 yards, home against Duke with 5 receptions for 30 yards, and the home contest against Pittsburgh when George hauled in 3 catches for 39 yards.
From playing in seven games, George’s 2022 season statistics:
Receptions
: 13
Yards
: 130
Average
: 10
Touchdowns
: 0
Obviously the most noticeable absence from the above list of numbers would be touchdowns. With a much more stable quarterback situation this next season – having Tyler Van Dyke back in the lineup will be more valuable for the Canes – should help George across the board, touchdowns included.
He caught a back-corner touchdown pass from Van Dyke in the spring game that was actually great coverage. That play once again showcased how George can be a big-play receiver for Miami.
The ability to release and quickly get away from a cornerback with quick and fluid moves make George a valuable asset for Van Dyke and the Hurricanes overall. His presecence in the lineup will place opposing defensive coordinators in a quandary because it means less attention will be paid to Young and Restrepo.
Miami did not have much wide receiver balance last fall, much of that being due to injuries to George and Restrepo. That was a killer.
How Will George Impact Miami's 2023 Receiving Corps?
Having those two back in the lineup changes play calling for Miami offensive coordinator Shannon Dawson, including the ability to use play-action passing more effectively, as well as having another player that can stretch the field with George.
Look for more teams to play zone against the Miami offense because of the overall experience, size and speed from the receiving corps (watch out for wide receiver Isaiah Horton as well, he’s only in his second season at UM this fall).
George’s biggest Impacts
Most importantly, by just being on the field more this next season, George will help to decrease the number of reps that other key players like Young and Restrepo will take. Keeping players fresh for a full 12 game season will be pivotal, especially in the brutal South Florida heat.
He’s also going to have numerous one-on-one chances to go deep or simply be in a battle with a single defensive back no matter the route. Quite frankly, some close games could come down to whether or not Van Dyke and George create a consistent chemistry that helps move the chains; watch out for George during third down passing situations.
Finally, look for him to emerge in some of the bigger games that primarily take place during the middle to late stages of the 2023 season: Oct. 14 at North Carolina, Oct. 21 versus Clemson, Nov. 4 at North Carolina State, Nov. 11 at Florida State, and Nov. 18 to close out the home slate against Louisville.
2024 Recruiting Rankings: Florida's Top 25 Prospects
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Fan Nation High school football recruiting analyst covering the state of Florida, as well as across the Southeastern United States and the state of Texas.