Smart, the highly successful defensive coordinator at Alabama, has been available to the media about as often as Vanderbilt plays for the SEC championship. “These two guys are very witty, very amusing, and they are very good football coaches and they brought a lot of experience and value”.
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Former Alabama defensive coordinator Kirby Smart signs autographs as Georgia’s new head coach Tuesday at SEC Media Days in Hoover.
“The proof (of a recruiting class’s merit) is when they get there and what they do”, he said. By the time the Georgia coach opened it up for questions, all that was left for him to talk about was the two-deep at long snapper.
Smart said Chubb won’t start out in preseason camp going through scrimmages and full contact work and has to continue regaining confidence in the knee.
Smart certainly has the resume for it; he learned as Saban’s top lieutenant and led a defense that consistently ranked among the best in the country. Nick Chubb, who ran for 1,547 yards as a freshman in 2014, is rehabbing hard from a devastating knee injury suffered last season against Tennessee but will still have some limitations when practice begins in August.
The difference between Pruitt and Smart: “It’s not really a big difference”. “In that time, I’ve had the great benefit of being to every venue in the SEC, and the passion and energy that this conference exudes is incredible”. He’s doing everything with the rest of the team as far as summer workouts.
Senior defensive lineman Jonathan Allen played for Smart for three years.
Not only will this be Smart’s rookie year as an FBS head coach, but he’s also stepping into the shoes of a guy who was somewhat of a legend around Athens, Ga.
“I’m not trying to hold back or play it close to the vest with our quarterback”, Mullen said.
Kirby Smart assumed his full-time duties January 13 as the University of Georgia head football coach.
“The personality (Smart) has, he always kept it the same”, Howard said. Our team has moved forward.
“It was a mistake he made as well and I didn’t let it take over me”, Sanders said. “I’m at a great place – there’s not many great, great jobs out there and I’ve got one – so I’m excited about it and (looking) to make the most of it”. I’ve sat through a lot of meetings the last few years at University of Alabama making that same decision. We’re not just going to drop him. “That’s where I want to put my stamp at the University of Georgia….” “The trademark for us is going to be a big, physical, fast football team”, he said. “A program is the entirety of that”.
Smart appears to be off to a positive start in building his program. As the head coach of a powerhouse school like Georgia, Smart is the face of the program.
Whether or not the Vols are picked to win the division in SEC Media Days voting Thursday, one thing is clear: Georgia, frequently favored, is seen as anything but a lock in an SEC East known for parity and parody. Smart says Eason being the fan favorite doesn’t impact his decision, though. It’s possible Georgia falls below their own Mendoza line in the standings. Recruiting rankings are courtesy of 247Sports.
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All quotes obtained from SEC Network’s broadcast unless otherwise noted.
