UGASports is counting down the days until the Bulldogs’ 2024 season opener. For each day in our countdown, we will reveal our opinion of the best player in Georgia history to wear that particular jersey number.
We select Tavarres King as the best Georgia player to wear jersey number 12.
#12 TAVARRES KING
Position: Wide Receiver
Hometown (High School): Mount Airy, GA (Habersham Central)
Height/Weight: 6-1, 192
Seasons: 2008-2012
Stats: 136 receptions, 2,602 yards receiving, 21 TD receptions
Career: In a number full of quarterbacks, UGASports went with a wide receiver for pick uniform No. 12. Rated the No. 88 player in the nation coming out of Habersham Central, Tavarres King had 99 receptions for 1,632 yards and 17 touchdowns as a senior in high school. King played in four games for Georgia as a true freshman in 2008 and had two receptions before redshirting. In 2009, he had 18 receptions including a touchdown against Arkansas. The following season, King increased his totals to 27 receptions and three touchdowns. As a redshirt junior, his career really took off as King led the team in receptions (47), yards receiving (705) and touchdown receptions (8), finishing in the top seven in the SEC in all three categories. The last game of that season was a record-setting performance by King. In the Outback Bowl against Michigan State (Georgia lost in three overtimes), he had six receptions for a school-record 205 yards and a touchdown. The 205 yards are still a record today. As a senior, King led the team again with 42 receptions for 950 yards receiving and nine touchdowns. His 22.6 yards per reception that season led the nation among players with more than 30 receptions. King's nine touchdown receptions in 2012 currently rank tied for the third most in Georgia history and his receiving yards rank fourth. His best game that season might have been against Kentucky, when he had nine receptions for 188 yards and a pair of scores. The 188 yards rank tied for ninth all-time in a single game by a Bulldog. Notably, of the top-10 single-game performances in receiving yards in UGA history, King is currently the only Georgia player to own multiple marks.
#12 Honorable Mention: Zeke Bratkowski, Mike Cavan, Preston Ridlehuber, John Lastinger, Juan Daniels
