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After a brief respite in the hills of Northwest Georgia, the Chatsworth

Cheetah—a most appropriate byname for Ladd McConkey—has returned

to Los Angeles with his sights set on continuing his football career with the

LA Chargers who have a highly regarded quarterback, Justin Herbert, and

a new coach, Jim Harbaugh.

Ladd has not brought up in conversation the results of the 2021

Orange Bowl with the coach, but he has reserved a little needling for the

Charger assistants who were members of the Michigan staff for that game

which Georgia won, 34-11.

 

“You should be thankful we did not get into the playoffs this past

season or you might not have won the national title,” Ladd kidded them

during recent OTA’s. In that game which enabled the Bulldogs to move on

to play Alabama for the national championship, Ladd caught two passes for

14 yards and had one rush for eight yards. Ever the team player, he said

this about that in a recent conversation, “We had nine guys to catch balls in

that Orange Bowl game which means that the team stats are the most

important stats.”

 

While you would never hear this little man, comparatively speaking,

with the biggest of hearts come with a fool hardy quote, he says he feels

“comfortable” with the Charger offense. “I really like Justin Herbert,” he

said in our recent conversation. “He has such great ability; he has a terrific

work ethic and a great relationship with his teammates.”

Ladd’s refreshing resume is deserving of longevity. In addition to a

story book high school and college career, if he flourishes with the

Chargers, he will utilize the experience to do some good for the world.

That is likely to happen anyway. He is certainly not the one-dimensional

athlete we are so often introduced to. He was just as proud of his degree

from the Terry College of Business at UGA as he was his two national

championship rings. He played his final season as a college graduate and

won a National Football Foundation post graduate scholarship.

He grew up playing games and excelling but loving sports for the

pure joy of competition. The fun of playing with an accent on versatility

makes you aware that his refreshing attitude was the same as it was back

in Murray County. Football, basketball, baseball, track—it didn’t matter the

season, he was eager to compete. Pickup games were as constant as

sunrises. He was simply having fun. His 6-0,185 frame cast him as a “little

guy,” but what set him apart were the results. He was adept at making big

plays—the sort that had game changing effect.

At home in the woods, dropping a 12-point buck, which he could field

dress with rapid aplomb, or outwitting a seasoned Tom (turkey) with canny

shotgun accuracy; or casting for abundant bream or bass will always bring

about comparable exhilaration that comes with making a productive and defining play that helps his team negotiate victory.

His self-scouting report discloses that while he wasn’t the biggest or

the strongest in his developmental years, “I could run pretty fast.” He

confirms that athletic alacrity runs in his family. Competition, too. Early on

he wanted to outdo his brother Hinton. You know who had the advantage,

initially. When little brother grew up a bit, it was a different story. The

process, however, brought significant dividends for the development of a

young man with a perennial smile.

Now Ladd has the greatest challenge of his young life. Every Charger

is bigger and better than most of those he crossed swords with during his

time as a Southeastern Conference receiver. Never the cocky, trash talking

type, Ladd remans enamored with competition at the highest level and his

 

confidence brings about a belief and faith that his next chapter in football

will be favorable.

Attention to detail is part of his DNA and he relishes time spent in the

tape room. He respects the veteran players, saying, “It is amazing. I am a

rookie, and I line up with guys who are 10-years-older than me.”

His first impression was to graphically understand that pro football is

a business. For those players who fared poorly upon arrival, they had

cleaned out their lockers before he met them.

He believes his Georgia experience has prepared him to play in the

NFL. “The Charger offense is very familiar. We like to run the ball and

utilize the play-action passing game, just like it was with the Bulldogs,” he

says.

Today he is enjoying football just as he always has, but he knows it

will not last forever, which brought up the question of what does he want to

do when the reality of life after football comes about? “Maybe coach,” he

grins. “Like on the high school level, help young kids.”

 

Altruism runs deep in his makeup, which means that when he settles

down in the community of choice, he will not only be a good neighbor, but

he will also extend a helping hand to those in need.

 

It would be difficult to find a more all-American boy than Ladd

McConkey, the mountain kid who has followed his heart to the next level,

but we can rejoice in the belief that the best is yet to come.