Fresh talent boosts 'Dogs

ATHENS, Ga. - Mohamed Massaquoi has the talent to stand out in any group of receivers.

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At Georgia, his abilities are even more obvious.

The touted freshman didn't take long to emerge as one of the Bulldogs' most effective receivers, his development pushed along by the lackluster numbers of others at the wideout positions.

"Of all our guys, Mohamed is the one who really catches the ball with his hands," coach Mark Richt said. "Rarely does he let the ball get to his body. For the most part, he goes to the ball and snatches it away from the defensive back better than any guy we have."

Massaquoi ranks third on the Bulldogs with 24 receptions, his importance growing with each game. Last week, he caught six passes for 108 yards in a 31-30 loss to Auburn.

"He's a special guy," teammate DeMario Minter said. "Just look at the man's hands. Those are hands meant for catching the ball. They're so big. He's just a great athlete. He's really lived up to all the hype."

A son of Liberian immigrants, the 6-foot-2, 180-pound Massaquoi grew up in Charlotte, N.C., and became one of the greatest prep receivers in state history. He helped Independence High win 77 consecutive games and five state titles in a row.

"We had the type of offense that threw the ball around so much," he recalled. "It forced you to learn to catch the ball."

Massaquoi was sidelined during part of the preseason with a hamstring injury, which slowed his development. But it didn't take long to realize that he was perhaps the most gifted member of the receiving corps, which was forced to rebuild after losing Reggie Brown and Fred Gibson.

"If that hamstring didn't set him back, who knows where he would be," Richt said.

Who knows where Georgia would be without him. Starting flanker Sean Bailey has been a disappointment, making only 10 catches in eight games - four of those in a season-opening rout of Boise State - and rapidly falling out of favor with drop after drop.

Most telling, tight end Leonard Pope is Georgia's leading receiver in terms of receptions (27) and yards (400). Bryan McClendon has the most catches among the wideouts with 25, and the only other player in double figures besides Bailey is backup tight end Martrez Milner with 11 receptions.