NEW ORLEANS — Georgia freshman receiver George Pickens provided the spark the Bulldogs’ pass game and offense had been lacking.
Pickens tied the Bulldogs’ bowl record with 12 catches for 175 yards and a touchdown in the Sugar Bowl on Wednesday night.
Pickens entered the game with more TD catches (7) than any true freshman receiver in the nation. The 6-foot-3, 190-pounder from Hoover (Ala.) High School also led SEC freshmen wideouts with 37 catches for 552 yards this season.
Pickens had 11 catches for 165 yards and a 27-yard touchdown by halftime of the Sugar Bowl.
Quarterback Jake Fromm’s first eight completions were to Pickens including three third-down conversion throws.
Former Super Bowl MVP Hines Ward is the co-record holder for catches. Ward had 12 catches for 154 yards in the 1998 Outback Bowl against Wisconsin.
Tavarres King holds the school record for receiving yardage in a bowl game with 205 yards on 6 catches in the 2012 Outback Bowl against Michigan State.
The Sugar Bowl record for catches and receiving yardage in a game was set in 2002 by LSU’s Josh Reed, who had 14 catches for 239 yards against Illinois.
Pickens was a 2019 National Signing Day flip last February, changing from Auburn to Georgia.
Pickens’ previous career high for catches and yards receiving in a game came in a 20-17 overtime loss to South Carolina. Pickens had 7 catches for 98 yards against the Gamecocks.
