Georgia football has a standard. That standard applies on and off the field. So when fans are upset that Georgia is not going to sign the highest-rated class, it feels as though they do not understand Kirby Smart’s and the Georgia program’s standards.
I’m not sure if you have seen it, but there are some fans out there that are upset with recruiting because Georgia has not gotten a few guys. Georgia has the number one class in the country and unless things dramatically change, they will keep that title when this cycle ends.
But as Georgia is chasing history with its third title in a row, fans want Georgia to make history with its recruiting class composite score. Which is a frivolous chase. Texas A&M has the highest-ranked recruiting class of all time. Jimbo and his Aggies have been fighting for bowl eligibility for the past two seasons. On top of that many players on that 2022 recruiting class for the Aggies are now with other teams and a handful (3) have transferred and been kicked off the team they transferred to.
Kirby Smart since he has taken over has always said that he is going to recruit players that not only are talented but fit the Georgia program. Sometimes in doing so, they miss on players because it’s not a perfect marriage. Other programs out there will give millions to a kid because he is a highly-rated player. The Georgia football program will not. As fans, we should all be grateful for that. Look what happened to Florida with Jaden Rashada. Allegedly Rashada took the NIL money and then left.
Look I am no expert on recruiting or N.I.L. but I rather Georgia not having a similar situation as Florida had. Smart and Saban both refuse to adapt to this new way of recruiting. Smart has said constantly that they do not recruit a kid based on how much money the recruit would get for signing with Georgia. Smart has said you have to get on campus and earn the money from N.I.L.
Is that a better philosophy than all the other schools out there? I’m not sure. But I do know it means the players at Georgia want to go to Georgia. They love Georgia as much as the fans do. I rather have that than a bunch of players that are there because Georgia won a bidding war.
So while some in the fan base are worried about composite scores, we who are reading this shouldn’t be. Kirby Smart is going to get highly skilled players and players who are loyal to the university. Isn’t that what makes College Football, College Football? I would hate to live in a world where players have no loyalty to the school they play at and transfer more money to a different school. For coaches like Smart and Saban, we all should commend them for taking a stand when they could very easily pay-for-play.