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In three seasons at Georgia, Jackson-Meeks had just 10 receptions for 132 yards.
Primarily used as a special teams weapon, Meeks rarely played an active role on offense and was often overshadowed by future NFL players like George Pickens, Ladd McConkie, and Brock Bowers.
Still, as the Bulldogs’ defensive backs coach, Fran Brown had a vision of what Meeks could become with a bigger opportunity. Meeks followed Brown to Syracuse and found his role as a deep-threat receiver early on.
His 35-yard strike down the right sideline against Ohio highlighted his big-play ability. He had four catches for 32 yards and SU won against then-No. 1 Martin Martin. 23 Georgia Tech has proven it can move the sticks when needed. His 13-yard touchdown catch late against Stanford proved he has a knack for seizing big moments.
But Meeks’ performance Saturday was a culmination of every aspect of his game. Against the Crusaders, Meeks had a career-high 10 receptions and one touchdown for 161 yards as Syracuse (3-1, 1-1 Atlantic Coast Conference) defeated Holy Cross (1-4, 0-1). He contributed to an overwhelming 42-14 victory. 0 Patriot League).
The senior wide receiver had five catches of 15 yards or more, all matching his three-season three-quarter and change total.
“Honestly, I always envision every fight as being the best fight of my career,” Meeks said after the game. “But in this game, I was in the right place at the right time.”
From the beginning, Meeks was involved. He often sat in the outside right receiver position, playing against sophomore cornerback Cam Jones.
Following the two runs that put the game ahead, SU was set up on a second-and-eight with three receivers wide and Meeks alone on the right side. He sprinted down the right side, then cut back and caught the ball, gaining 9 yards and a first down. Meeks caught another pass on the drive before SU scored.
Meeks got off to a strong start, leading 14-0 going into the second quarter. Quarterback Kyle McCord dropped back from the Holy Cross 38-yard line. Meeks was on the island again, this time with Eli Thompson, using a stop-and-go move to create 5 yards of separation.
McCord bucketed it and Meeks sprinted into the end zone for a goal. Meeks didn’t score a touchdown at Georgia, but he did find the end zone once in each of SU’s past two games.
“I’m really happy that he’s getting the opportunities that he’s getting right now. I think he’s making the most of the passes that are thrown to him,” Brown said after the game.
Meeks has seen an increase in opportunities so far. He played just 21 snaps in the season opener, but totaled 36 snaps against GT and 35 against Stanford.
Just before the half, Syracuse led by seven points and tried to extend its lead by driving from its own 46-yard line with 1:41 left. McCord tried to get Meeks to break down the right sideline again, but the play was broken up by tight coverage. A few plays later, after converting a first down on a catch by Requint Allen Jr., Meeks caught a pass for 9 yards and came within one first down.
On a second-and-1 from the Crusaders’ own 28-yard line, McCord fell back again, was covered by the cornerback, and despite a safety helping him over the top, fired a shot to Meeks down the right sideline. Meeks turned toward the ball, twisted his body in one motion, shielded the defender, and retrieved the ball. A 24-yard catch completed a first-and-10 from his own 4-yard line, and McCord set up Trevor Pena for a 6. At the half, Meeks had 91 receiving yards, already doubling his single-game career high.
“My mentality has always been the same: attack, attack, attack. I’ve always been that way since I was a kid,” Meeks said. “But it’s just building that confidence. If you’re not playing the football with confidence, it’s going to show on the field.”
Meeks continued to shine in the third quarter. On the second drive of the second half, McCord looked to Meeks for the third time in a row. He moved his stick twice and had back-to-back 16-yard receptions. The first featured a reversal route that left defenders in the dust. Next is a diagonal route that crosses the middle of the field. Then, after standing up to celebrate and facing forward to signal a first down, Meeks was spotted going 8 yards on a short return route.
To cap off his career day, Meeks made another catch downfield, showing off his strength and physicality through the air. McCord, who was already leading by 14 points, drove again, retreating and turning right. It was Meeks vs. Thompson again, with Meeks winning.
On the outside, Meeks turned his body 270 degrees, twisted to his left, and caught the ball along the sideline. Another big catch, this time for 30 yards, bringing his total for the day to 161 yards at a 16.1 per receiving clip.
SU scored on the drive, but the damage was done by Meeks sitting for much of the fourth quarter. While McCord found seven different pass catchers, Meeks became routine. Other days Peña rules. Oronde Gadsden II made his mark. But Saturday was Meeks’ career day.
“He came here and really established himself as a leader in the receiving room,” McCord said of Meeks. “He knows the playbook well. He has a really good feel for the game. And as we saw today, when the ball is in the air and it’s 50-50, he takes it. I’m going to come hit it. So it gives me a lot of confidence and I think you can see that continue to grow every week.”
Published on September 28, 2024 at 6:37 p.m.
Contact Aiden: (email protected) | @AidenStepansky
