George Pickens
![]() Pickens at Steelers training camp in 2023 | |||||||
No. 14 – Pittsburgh Steelers | |||||||
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Position: | Wide receiver | ||||||
Personal information | |||||||
Born: | March 4, 2001 | ||||||
Height: | 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) | ||||||
Weight: | 200 lb (91 kg) | ||||||
Career information | |||||||
High school: | Hoover | ||||||
College: | Georgia (2019–2021) | ||||||
NFL draft: | 2022 / Round: 2 / Pick: 52 | ||||||
Career history | |||||||
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Roster status: | Active | ||||||
Career highlights and awards | |||||||
Career NFL statistics as of 2023 | |||||||
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Player stats at PFR |
George Malik Pickens Jr. (born March 4, 2001) is an American professional football wide receiver for the Pittsburgh Steelers of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Georgia and was drafted by the Steelers in the second round of the 2022 NFL draft.
Early life
[edit]Pickens attended Hoover High School in Hoover, Alabama. As a senior, he had 69 receptions for 1,368 yards and 16 touchdowns.[1] He played in the 2019 Under Armour All-American Game.[2] A five star recruit, he originally committed to Auburn University to play college football before changing his commitment to the University of Georgia.[3][4]
College career
[edit]![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/f7/George_Pickens.png/220px-George_Pickens.png)
Pickens earned immediate playing time his freshman year at Georgia in 2019, leading the team in receptions (49), receiving yards (727) and receiving touchdowns (8).[5][6][7] In the following season Pickens caught 36 passes for 513 yards and a team-leading six touchdowns in an eight-game season shortened by the COVID-19 pandemic.[8] In the spring of 2021, Pickens tore his ACL causing him to miss most of his junior season.[9] He returned to play in the final four games of the year, catching just five passes, but made an important 52-yard reception in Georgia's win over Alabama in the 2022 College Football Playoff National Championship game.[10][11] Pickens declared for the 2022 NFL draft following the season.[12]
College statistics
[edit]Georgia Bulldogs | ||||||||||||||||||
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Year | GP | Rec | Yards | TDs | ||||||||||||||
2019 | 12 | 49 | 727 | 8 | ||||||||||||||
2020 | 8 | 36 | 513 | 6 | ||||||||||||||
2021 | 4 | 5 | 107 | 0 | ||||||||||||||
Career | 24 | 90 | 1,347 | 14 |
Professional career
[edit]Height | Weight | Arm length | Hand span | 40-yard dash | 10-yard split | 20-yard split | Vertical jump | Broad jump | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
6 ft 3+1⁄4 in (1.91 m) | 195 lb (88 kg) | 32+3⁄8 in (0.82 m) | 8+3⁄4 in (0.22 m) | 4.47 s | 1.50 s | 2.57 s | 34.5 in (0.88 m) | 10 ft 5 in (3.18 m) | ||||
Sources:[13][14] |
2022 season
[edit]Pickens was drafted by the Pittsburgh Steelers in the second round (52nd overall) of the 2022 NFL Draft.[15]
In Week 3 against the Cleveland Browns, Pickens corralled a one-handed catch while fully extending his body in the air. It was called by some the "Catch of the Year."[16] In Week 4, against the New York Jets, he had six receptions for 102 yards in the 24–20 loss.[17] Pickens scored his first professional touchdown during primetime in Week 7 against the Miami Dolphins.[18] In Week 16, Pickens caught the game-winning touchdown against the Las Vegas Raiders with less than a minute remaining.[19] He finished the 2022 season with 52 receptions for 801 yards and a team-high four receiving touchdowns.[20][21]
2023 season
[edit]![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/03/GeorgePickens23.jpg/220px-GeorgePickens23.jpg)
In Week 2 of the 2023 season, Pickens had four receptions for 127 yards and a touchdown in the win over the Browns.[22] In Week 5, agains the Ravens, he had six receptions for 130 yards and a touchdown in the 17–10 win.[23] In Week 16 against the Bengals, he had four receptions for 195 yards and two touchdowns, including a 86-yard reception for a score in the first quarter.[24] In the following game, against the Seahawks, he had seven receptions for 131 yards in the win.[25] He finished his second NFL season with 63 receptions for 1,140 yards and five touchdowns in 17 games and 16 starts.[26]
Pickens was on the receiving end of controversy throughout the 2023 season. After the Steelers' 20-16 victory over the Tennessee Titans, Pickens was criticized for lacking effort on the field. Throughout the previous two games, Pickens only completed three of ten receptions for 21 yards. He followed the criticism by posting on his Instagram story the words "free me" and deleted all posts related to the Steelers.[27] Pickens defended his post by making another post on Instagram explaining that the post was not directed at the Steelers, stating it has "[nothing] to do with football."[28]
During Week 15 against the Indianapolis Colts, Pickens was once again criticized for showing a lack of effort throughout the game, most notably not blocking for running back Jaylen Warren on what was a potential touchdown drive near the goal line.[29] Following the game, Pickens responded to the criticism stating he was attempting to avoid injury.
NFL career statistics
[edit]Legend | |
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Led the league | |
Bold | Career High |
Regular season
[edit]Year | Team | Games | Receiving | Rushing | Fumbles | ||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
GP | GS | Rec | Yds | Y/R | Lng | TD | Att | Yds | Y/A | Lng | TD | Fum | Lost | ||
2022 | PIT | 17 | 12 | 52 | 801 | 15.4 | 42 | 4 | 3 | 24 | 8.0 | 22 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
2023 | PIT | 17 | 16 | 63 | 1,140 | 18.1 | 86 | 5 | 3 | 18 | 6.0 | 16 | 0 | 3 | 0 |
Career | 34 | 28 | 115 | 1,941 | 16.9 | 86 | 9 | 6 | 42 | 7.0 | 22 | 1 | 3 | 0 |
Postseason
[edit]Year | Team | Games | Receiving | Rushing | Fumbles | ||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
GP | GS | Rec | Yds | Y/R | Lng | TD | Att | Yds | Y/A | Lng | TD | Fum | Lost | ||
2023 | PIT | 1 | 1 | 5 | 50 | 10.0 | 19 | 0 | 1 | 15 | 15.0 | 15 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
Career | 1 | 1 | 5 | 50 | 10.0 | 19 | 0 | 1 | 15 | 15.0 | 15 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
References
[edit]- ^ Weiszer, Marc (August 16, 2019). "George Pickens' 'flair for the dramatic' established before buzzworthy Georgia football moment". Savannah Morning News. Retrieved October 11, 2022.
- ^ Newman, Logan (October 26, 2018). "Ala. players Will Reichard, George Pickens will take their swag to the Under Armour game". USATodayHSS.com. Retrieved October 11, 2022.
- ^ Bean, Josh (February 6, 2019). "5-star Hoover WR George Pickens picks Georgia". AL.com. Retrieved October 11, 2022.
- ^ Sudge, Brandon (February 6, 2019). "What the addition of five-star wide receiver George Pickens means for Georgia". Macon.com. Retrieved February 26, 2023.
- ^ Jackson, Jordan (November 15, 2019). "George Pickens is Potentially UGA's biggest draft bust of all time". Maven. Retrieved October 11, 2022.
- ^ May, Jed (November 15, 2019). "He was an Auburn commit. Now rising star for Bulldogs, Pickens preps for SEC showdown". Macon.com. Retrieved February 26, 2023.
- ^ Sudge, Brandon (August 9, 2019). "UGA football: Receiver George Pickens compared to A.J. Green". Macon.com. Retrieved February 26, 2023.
- ^ "George Pickens 2020 Game Log". College Football at Sports-Reference.com. Retrieved February 27, 2023.
- ^ Scarborough, Alex (March 24, 2021). "Georgia's Pickens injures ACL, to have surgery". ESPN.com. Retrieved February 27, 2023.
- ^ "George Pickens 2021 Game Log". College Football at Sports-Reference.com. Retrieved February 27, 2023.
- ^ Leigh, Savannah (January 10, 2022). "George Pickens reintroduces himself to the Tide with big catch". Dawn of the Dawg. Retrieved February 27, 2023.
- ^ Austin, Brooks (January 14, 2022). "BREAKING: George Pickens Declares for NFL Draft". SI.com. Retrieved October 11, 2022.
- ^ "George Pickens Draft and Combine Prospect Profile". NFL.com. Retrieved March 4, 2022.
- ^ "2022 Draft Scout George Pickens, Georgia NFL Draft Scout College Football Profile". draftscout.com. Retrieved March 21, 2022.
- ^ Varley, Teresa (April 29, 2022). "Steelers select George Pickens in the second round". Steelers.com. Retrieved February 1, 2023.
- ^ Baer, Jack (September 22, 2022). "Steelers rookie George Pickens delivers Odell Beckham-esque Catch of the Year candidate". Yahoo! Sports. Retrieved October 11, 2022.
- ^ "New York Jets at Pittsburgh Steelers - October 2nd, 2022". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved October 11, 2022.
- ^ Pryor, Brooke (October 24, 2022). "George Pickens hauls in first NFL touchdown to cut Dolphins' lead". ESPN.com. Retrieved February 27, 2023.
- ^ "Las Vegas Raiders at Pittsburgh Steelers - December 24th, 2022". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved February 27, 2023.
- ^ "George Pickens 2022 Game Log". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved February 2, 2023.
- ^ "2022 Pittsburgh Steelers Rosters, Stats, Schedule, Team Draftees, Injury Reports". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved February 27, 2023.
- ^ "Cleveland Browns at Pittsburgh Steelers - September 18th, 2023". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved June 2, 2024.
- ^ "Baltimore Ravens at Pittsburgh Steelers - October 8th, 2023". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved June 2, 2024.
- ^ "Cincinnati Bengals at Pittsburgh Steelers - December 23rd, 2023". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved June 2, 2024.
- ^ "Pittsburgh Steelers at Seattle Seahawks - December 31st, 2023". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved June 2, 2024.
- ^ "George Pickens 2023 Game Log". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved June 2, 2024.
- ^ https://www.steelernation.com/2023/11/03/steelers-disgusted-george-pickens-posts-free-me [bare URL]
- ^ https://www.steelernation.com/2023/11/04/steelers-george-pickens-big-accusations-with-new-post [bare URL]
- ^ https://nypost.com/2023/12/19/sports/george-pickens-didnt-make-steelers-block-to-avoid-injury/ [bare URL]