Which Bulldogs will get suspended Nitro Tuggle’s reps at Wide Receiver?

Nitro Tuggle was suspended indefinitely by Kirby Smart and the Georgia football program on Thursday after getting arrested for reckless driving.

Tuggle, who had entered the transfer portal initially after the 2024 season, is beginning his second season as part of the Georgia wide receiving corps. He made a lot of progress towards the end of the season in 2024, making a key catch in the Tennessee game and getting playing time in key moments against Notre Dame. All of that progress is tabled for now as it is unclear how long the Indiana native will be suspended or if he will return to the team. Those practice reps of Tuggle’s will go somewhere.

Tuggle is listed as an X-receiver for the Bulldogs but had the size and ability to play either X or Z. With Colbie Young getting reinstated and fully cleared by Georgia before spring practice began and Noah Thomas having transferred in from Texas A&M, the X position is well taken care of by those two large-bodied wideouts. At best, Tuggle would have been third string at X, providing an opportunity for talented four-star recruit and early enrollee freshman CJ Wiley. Wiley is a 6’4″, 210-pound prospect from Milton High School in Georgia. He is the prototypical X-receiver who can stretch the field vertically and win contested 50-50 balls. Wiley will likely see a jump forward in Tuggle’s absence.

Any reps that Tuggle could have taken at Z-receiver will now likely go to another talented incoming freshman and early enrollee, Tayln Taylor. All the recruiting services ranked Taylor as one of the top receiver prospects in the country in the Class of 2025, and with good reason: Taylor’s route-running ability and knack for creating separation at the top of his routes are elite. While London Humphrey and Dillon Bell are the leaders at the Z-receiver position, Taylor should work his way into the rotation early on for the Dawgs.

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Photographer: David J. Griffin/Icon Sportswire