ATHENS – Could Hines Ward finally be on his way back to Georgia?
It could happen, now that assistant coach Cortez Hankton finally made official what had been speculated for weeks. Handling the roles of wide receivers coach since 2018 and passing game coordinator since 2019 for the Bulldogs, Hankton has accepted a job with new LSU coach Brian Kelly, according to the Baton Rouge Advocate. Hankton is a New Orleans native and long has been considered a candidate to join that staff.
Ward’s name immediately sprang to the top of fans’ wish list, as it has ever since Kirby Smart took over as the Bulldogs’ head coach in 2016. Ward and Smart were teammates at Georgia.
The argument always has been that Ward didn’t have any coaching experience, especially at the college level where recruiting and other off-field intricacies are so important. But Ward has now gotten some experience on that front, coaching wideouts for Willie Taggart at Florida Atlantic this past season. He has also served as an offensive assistant for the New York Jets. But there’s no questioning his skill for teaching technique at the position.
The same could be said for Terrence Edwards. Though Edwards did not play with Smart at Georgia – his brother Robert did -- they’re quite familiar with each other. Many of Terrence Edwards’ clients at his receiver/tight end academy have either signed with or been recruited by Georgia.
Credit: HYOSUB SHIN / AJC
Credit: HYOSUB SHIN / AJC
Smart could also elevate members of his quality control and support staff. Buster Faulkner, who assists offensive coordinator Todd Monken with Georgia’s quarterbacks, has been looking to get back on the field full time since he left his Southern Miss post as offensive coordinator and QBs coach.
Hankton is one of several assistants who could be lured away by raises and promotions at other programs in the wake of the Bulldogs’ national championship. The program already lost defensive coordinator Dan Lanning, Monken is surely generating interest and run-game coordinator/running backs coach Dell McGee has long expressed interest in running his own program.
There is expected to be a lot of movement on the player front as well. Over the weekend, redshirt freshman defensive back Jalen Kimber announced he was transferring to Florida. Kimber was competing for a starting job but ended up just playing in one game due to a shoulder injury.
Meanwhile, sophomore tight end Darnell Washington actually posted “So confused don’t know what to do” on his Instagram page on Sunday. The 6-foot-7, 265-pound former 5-star from Las Vegas got overshadowed by freshman start Brock Bowers this season while slowed with a foot injury.
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