A career that began in a town of roughly 4,000 people will continue in a city of roughly 4 million.
Former North Murray High School and University of Georgia standout Ladd McConkey didn't last long Friday night as the National Football League draft resumed. The 6-foot, 186-pound receiver from Chatsworth was the second pick of the second round, going 34th overall to the Los Angeles Chargers.
The Chargers have stability at quarterback with Justin Herbert, selected Notre Dame offensive tackle Joe Alt fifth overall Thursday night and are now under the guidance of Jim Harbaugh, who took the San Francisco 49ers to Super Bowl XLVII and guided Michigan to college football's national championship last season.
"Coach Harbaugh is there, they have a great offense, and they have a great quarterback," McConkey said Friday night on a conference call. "I'm just excited to get up there and meet all of the guys and get to work, honestly. I've been waiting, and I feel like it's been so long just trying to figure out where I'm going to be.
"Now that it's here, it's time to get to work."
The Chargers traded with the New England Patriots to acquire McConkey and celebrated the pick on social media with a simple "LAdd."
McConkey redshirted at Georgia in 2020 before amassing 119 receptions for 1,687 yards (14.2 yards per catch) and 14 touchdowns over the next three seasons. He also rushed 13 times for 216 yards (16.6) and four scores.
"He doesn't have big hands and he's got short arms, but he ran a 4.39 and had a 36-inch vertical," ESPN draft analyst Mel Kiper said. "As a punt returner, he averaged 20 yards in 2022. He had equal stats in his career playing in the slot and playing out wide. He has quickness out of the break and quickness with the ball in his hands.
"He's as tough as nails, and he's a phenomenal kid. His character is through the roof, and he will be Justin Herbert's best friend."
McConkey made the Southeastern Conference's all-freshman team in 2021, was an All-SEC second-team selection in 2022 and served as a key piece of Georgia's national championship teams in each of those seasons. He was hindered by a back injury early last season but won the Wuerffel Trophy, which honors the player "who best combines exemplary community service with athletic and academic achievement."
As a North Murray senior, McConkey racked up 3,051 all-purpose yards while playing quarterback, running back, receiver and return specialist. He threw for 1,771 yards and rushed for 924, and he also had three interception returns for touchdowns and three special teams returns for scores.
"Growing up, I feel like every little kid wants to get drafted and wants to go high," McConkey said. "I knew that I could do it, and I knew that I had a good support staff around me that believed in me. When I got to Georgia and got the opportunity to play in the SEC against the best competition week in and week out, I was like, 'All right, I can do this. I just need a shot.'
"It's something that I've always wanted to do, and then it started to come to life a little bit in the last couple of years."
Despite McConkey's heroics and versatility at North Murray, he became one of the least-heralded signees of the Kirby Smart era. McConkey was the nation's No. 1,131 overall prospect in the 2020 signing class, according to the 247Sports.com composite rankings, which led to an amusing moment for him Friday night when he was asked if Harbaugh had recruited him out of high school.
"No, sir. Not too many people did, though," McConkey said, "so it's all good. No hard feelings."
McConkey was among three Georgia players who got selected in the second round, with cornerback Kamari Lassiter going 42nd overall to the Houston Texans and safety Javon Bullard going 58th to the Green Bay Packers. Alabama also had two defensive players go in the second round: cornerback Kool-Aid McKinstry 41st to the New Orleans Saints and outside linebacker Chris Braswell 57th to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Receiver Jermaine Burton, who played the 2020-21 seasons at Georgia and the 2022-23 seasons at Alabama, was drafted in the third round by the Cincinnati Bengals as the 80th overall selection.
Contact David Paschall at dpaschall@timesfreepress.com.