Georgia Bulldogs’ Kirby Smart has a powerful message regarding a player who drew comparisons to an NFL star in win over Tennessee State
The Georgia Bulldogs have one of the best tight end classes in the entire country, and Jaden Reddell is a big reason why.
The Georgia Bulldogs opened their 2026 season with a dominant 63-3 victory, and tight end Jaden Reddell made sure he was part of the conversation.
Quarterback Gunner Stockton spread the ball around to 15 different pass catchers, never targeting the same receiver more than 3 times. Reddell, a 6’4″, 235-pound former top-50 recruit and the No. 1 tight end in his class, stood out with a highlight-reel touchdown that included several broken tackles on his way to the end zone.
Georgia lost 6/7 top receivers this offseason to the draft, graduation, and the transfer portal. Somebody has to step up, and Reddell is making his case.
Kirby Smart details Reddell’s development journey
Georgia head coach Kirby Smart had a lot to say about his tight end after the game:
“Jaden Reddell’s an interesting story because he was highly recruited, highly thought of, and came in with a lot of expectations. It didn’t happen right away, I’ll be honest with you. He wasn’t ready to block. He wasn’t physically ready, wasn’t mentally ready. It was a shock to go play at this speed, but he never pouted. He never whined. He had opportunities to leave and go places. Everybody does.
“He didn’t choose them. His mom stood firm. His mom said, ‘You’re gonna stay there. You’re gonna out- outwork average, and you’re gonna compete.’ And man, has he flourished. When it comes to development, this guy is the embodiment of development, and he’s still getting better. So a lot of credit goes to Coach Harley, a lot of credit goes to his mother, and the most credit goes to him because he works his tail off every day. I still think his best is ahead.”
Smart’s praise says plenty about how much Reddell has grown since arriving in Athens. The Bulldogs have a long history of developing tight ends into elite weapons, and Smart’s words paint Reddell as the latest in that pipeline.
Bowers comparisons are coming, but let’s pump the brakes
Reddell is already drawing comparisons to Brock Bowers, one of the greatest college tight ends we’ve ever seen and arguably the best tight end in the NFL right now with the Las Vegas Raiders. That’s a high bar. Reddell isn’t there yet, but the play he made against Tennessee State looked like something straight out of Bowers’ Georgia highlight tape.
The Bulldogs always seem to have a tight end who can make plays, line up in the slot, and block at a high level. Reddell appears to be that next guy at the position, and the connection he’s building with Stockton could make him a consistent target throughout 2026.
Georgia has a plethora of tight ends on its roster, so Reddell may not be the sole focal point of the passing game. But he doesn’t need to be. If he can establish himself as a reliable, consistent presence in the offense, that fills a massive void left by the departing receiver group.
Either way, Reddell has worked his tail off, and the coaching staff is taking notice. With Smart saying he believes Reddell’s best football is still ahead, the Bulldogs may have found their next great tight end.
