Wesleyan SR WR Geno Houchins IV has been a varsity starter since his freshman year. The skilled receiver plays with zero fear, going up for passes and willing to put his body on the line to make the big play.
That was never clearer than last Friday, in a Week 5 matchup where Houchins made a prolific reception down the right sideline against Lovett. The senior jumped, catching the pass while a defender spun him around mid-air, and still managed to stay in bounds.
The miraculous catch earned Sunday Night’s Top 10 Plays, and 24 hours later, he was voted Georgia’s #1 play. Houchins talked about the virality of the catch and receiving so much attention.
“It’s been really cool. When the ball was in the air, I knew it had to be mine. I needed to get up high and get both hands on it, and once that happened, I would figure out a way to land. I wanted to make a play for my team, especially since I had been seeing double coverage most of the night. I definitely wasn’t thinking it would end up all over social media. Seeing the MaxPreps post go viral, and then seeing how many people watched and shared it, has been pretty crazy. Winning “Play of the Week” makes it even better. I really appreciate everyone who supported me and voted.”
The seasoned receiver is halfway through the regular season of his senior year, so he talked about his experiences, going through the ups and downs, plus personal success.
“It’s been exciting, with never a dull moment at our games,” Houchins said. “We’ve had some really close ones. Both of our losses came down to last-minute drives at the end of the game, so one of the biggest things for us is learning how to finish. We still have a lot of season left. We’re fortunate to have a really experienced coaching staff at Wesleyan. Coach Pridgen has been our head coach for more than 20 years, and a lot of our coaches have been here a long time. They’ve built a great culture and keep us focused on getting better every week and finishing the season the right way. I’ve been really happy with how I’ve played individually, but the biggest thing for me is helping our team finish strong and make a run in the playoffs.”
For Houchins, making electric plays is just part of the process. The class of ’27 receiver has 1753 career yards and 15 touchdowns in 35 career games. He’s averaging a career-best 107 yards per game and 15.3 yards per catch, so we asked the senior where he improved the most since last season.
“Probably my route running and understanding of coverages. I’ve gotten better at recognizing what the defense is giving us and finding ways to get open. I also think I’m stronger and more explosive after the catch, and I’ve really focused on YAC. I’ve always taken pride in being able to do a lot of different things, like playing in the slot or lined up wide, working in tight spaces or going after the deep ball, returning kicks, and playing defense when we need tight coverage. Any two-way skill guy will tell you that playing DB helps you become a better receiver, and playing receiver helps you become a better DB,” he said.
The senior is currently top 20 in receiving in the GHSA, and earlier this season against Whitefield Academy, he broke the school’s single-game receiving record.
“My breakout game was our opener against Whitefield, when I had 9 catches for 234 yards and 2 touchdowns. The 234 yards broke Wesleyan’s single-game receiving record and was also a top-10 single-game receiving performance in Gwinnett County football history. It was a heck of a way to start my senior season,” he said.
On the recruiting front, Houchins is hearing from several programs across several levels of college football.
“I’ve been fortunate to have several schools recruiting me. I have offers from some really strong academic D3 programs like Kenyon, Hampden-Sydney, Sewanee, and Centre. I’ve also been talking with and visiting D1 schools like Dayton, Stetson, and Fordham. I’m keeping an open mind and looking for the best combination of football, academics, and overall fit.”
The senior is working out gameday visits, trying to find his way back on campuses, while keeping up with his busy schedule. The senior said he is eager to meet with more coaches and find the best fit.
No doubt, Houchins has taken his game to another level this fall. He has 430 yards receiving, 28 catches and 5 touchdowns so far. The senior is a polished receiver, using his quickness and ability to see the open field as a dangerous playmaker after the catch. More importantly, he does a nice job of reading the defense, breaking off his routes, finding soft spots in the defense, and has demonstrated some of the most reliable hands in the class of ’27.
More recruiting news and highlights are on the horizon for Houchins, so be sure to follow @RecruitGeorgia on Twitter/X to see the latest on the senior receiver and players across the state of Georgia.
