# Ladd McConkey

Andrew Ladd McConkey (born November 11, 2001) is an American professional football wide receiver for the Los Angeles Chargers of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Georgia Bulldogs, winning two national championships and the 2023 Wuerffel Trophy. He was selected by the Chargers in the second round of the 2024 NFL draft.

## Early life

McConkey attended North Murray High School in Chatsworth, Georgia. He made the varsity team as a freshman. McConkey played quarterback, running back, defensive back, and punter and was also a return specialist. In his senior year, he led North Murray to a 9–1 record and the school's first ever region championship. McConkey finished the year with 36 total touchdowns and 3,051 total yards, being named the offensive player of the year for the region. McConkey was a three-star recruit and committed to the University of Georgia, his only Power Five offer, on February 2, 2020. His jersey number, 15, was retired by North Murray in 2023.

## College career

McConkey redshirted and was initially a member of Georgia's scout team. In McConkey's redshirt freshman year, he caught five touchdowns with 28 receptions for 430 yards. His first career touchdown came against Vanderbilt. McConkey also rushed for one touchdown. He was named the SEC Freshman of the Week after the 34-10 win over Auburn, where he had 135 yards receiving and one touchdown. McConkey played in all of Georgia's games making seven starts.
McConkey scored two touchdowns, one receiving, and one rushing, against Oregon in the 2022 season opener. Against Kent State, McConkey recorded a career high six receptions. He scored a touchdown against Florida before tallying a season-high 94 yards against #1 Tennessee. The following week against Mississippi State, McConkey would rush for a 70-yard touchdown while also adding a 17-yard receiving touchdown. He left the SEC Championship Game against LSU on December 3, 2022, due to knee tendinitis.
In the 2023 College Football Playoff National Championship Game, McConkey recorded five receptions for 88 yards and two touchdowns in a 65–7 victory. Following the game, he announced that he would return to Georgia for the 2023 season.
The following season, McConkey missed significant time due to injuries. He finished the regular season with 29 receptions for 456 yards and two touchdowns, and he was named the recipient of the Wuerffel Trophy. On January 1, 2024, McConkey declared for the 2024 NFL draft. McConkey graduated from Georgia in 2023 with a degree in finance.
College statistics :
| Season | GP | Receiving | Receiving | Receiving | Receiving | Rushing | Rushing | Rushing | Rushing |
| Season | GP | Rec | Yds | Avg | TD | Att | Yds | Avg | TD |
| 2020 | Redshirt | Redshirt | Redshirt | Redshirt | Redshirt | Redshirt | Redshirt | Redshirt | Redshirt |
| 2021 | 15 | 31 | 447 | 14.4 | 5 | 4 | 44 | 11.0 | 1 |
| 2022 | 15 | 58 | 762 | 13.1 | 7 | 7 | 134 | 19.1 | 2 |
| 2023 | 9 | 30 | 478 | 15.7 | 2 | 2 | 38 | 19.0 | 1 |
| Career | 39 | 119 | 1,687 | 14.1 | 14 | 13 | 216 | 16.2 | 4 |

## Professional career

Pre-draft measurables :
| Height | Weight | Arm length | Hand span | 40-yard dash | 10-yard split | 20-yard split | 20-yard shuttle | Three-cone drill | Vertical jump | Broad jump | Bench press |
| 5 ft 11+5⁄8 in (1.82 m) | 186 lb (84 kg) | 30+1⁄4 in (0.77 m) | 8+5⁄8 in (0.22 m) | 4.39 s | 1.52 s | 2.54 s | 4.04 s | 6.72 s | 36.0 in (0.91 m) | 10 ft 4 in (3.15 m) | 13 reps |
| All values from NFL Combine/Pro Day ||||||||||||
McConkey was selected by the Los Angeles Chargers 34th overall with the pick acquired from a trade with New England Patriots. On June 19, 2024, McConkey signed his four-year rookie contract with the Chargers worth $9.9 million guaranteed, with a $4 million signing bonus. In his NFL debut, he scored a receiving touchdown in a 22–10 victory over the Las Vegas Raiders in Week 1. In a Week 8 victory over the New Orleans Saints, McConkey had six receptions for 111 yards and two touchdowns. In Week 11 against the Cincinnati Bengals, he had six receptions for 123 yards in the 34–27 win. In Week 17, McConkey broke the Chargers rookie franchise record for the most receptions and yards by a Charger rookie in a single season, a record formerly held by Keenan Allen. He had two receiving touchdowns in the game, a 40–7 victory over the New England Patriots. In the 2024 season, McConkey finished with 82 receptions for 1,149 yards and seven touchdowns. In the Wild Card Round of the playoffs, McConkey had nine receptions for 197 yards and a touchdown in the 32–12 loss. He set an NFL record for most receiving yards by a rookie in a single postseason game.

## NFL career statistics
### Regular season

| Year | Team | Games | Games | Receiving | Receiving | Receiving | Receiving | Receiving | Receiving | Receiving | Fumbles | Fumbles |
| Year | Team | GP | GS | Tgt | Rec | Yds | Avg | Y/G | Lng | TD | Fum | Lost |
| 2024 | LAC | 16 | 14 | 112 | 82 | 1,149 | 14.0 | 71.8 | 60 | 7 | 2 | 0 |
| Career | Career | 16 | 14 | 112 | 82 | 1,149 | 14.0 | 71.8 | 60 | 7 | 2 | 0 |

### Postseason

| Year | Team | Games | Games | Receiving | Receiving | Receiving | Receiving | Receiving | Receiving | Fumbles | Fumbles |
| Year | Team | GP | GS | Tgt | Rec | Yds | Avg | Lng | TD | Fum | Lost |
| 2024 | LAC | 1 | 1 | 14 | 9 | 197 | 21.9 | 86 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Career | Career | 1 | 1 | 14 | 9 | 197 | 21.9 | 86 | 1 | 0 | 0 |

## Personal life

A middle child, McConkey grew up a fan of the Tennessee Volunteers. His father, Benji McConkey, was a star quarterback in high school at Dalton High, while his brother, Hinton McConkey, played quarterback for the University of West Georgia in Division II in 2018. McConkey writes "1-20-16" on his towel before games to honor his grandfather Vic McConkey, who died on that date.