The latest issue plaguing the state of college football today is the influx of NFL players who attempt to return to college after not making a professional roster, and Kirby Smart made his thoughts on the subject abundantly clear on Tuesday.
Lawsuits, injunctions and rule changes have once again called into question what exactly a college athlete is. The Georgia Bulldogs however don’t appear interested in bringing in anyone who failed to make an NFL roster back to Athens..
Head coach Kirby Smart said himself on Tuesday that they are not currently evaluating anyone on NFL rosters.
"The opportunities presented to the guys on our team are important to me. They've earned those opportunities through an offseason, through a summer program, through a really tough fall camp," Smart said. "You have to decide, [with] each and every person, if that's valuable enough to warrant replacing your players that have worked with your team with others that might be better.”
Kirby Smart has no interest in bringing NFL back to Georgia
The fact that this is even a credible question to ask a college football coach speaks volumes about where the sport is right now. NFL castoffs rejoining the college ranks just weeks before the season is frankly bizarre. It however is the situation college football finds themselves in.
LSU’s pending additions of former Cleveland Browns tight end Dae’Quan Wright and New Orleans Saints defensive lineman Zxavian Harris are the headlining examples of this new phenomenon right now.
Texas is also bringing back offensive lineman Cole Hutson after he gained a fifth year of eligibility from a court ruling. Hutson took part in minicamps for the Browns and Dallas Cowboys this offseason.
Smart characterized his thoughts on this roster-building approach as simply “to each his own”.
“Some people feel like that gives them an opportunity to be better and doesn't change their culture, and more power to them," he said.
Two Georgia Bulldogs are attempting a return to college football
There have been rumblings that wide receiver and key special teams member Cole Speer might be returning to Athens after a judge ruled that Class of 2022 recruits have a fifth year of eligibility. The ruling, however, did not apply to anyone who has signed a pro contract, which Speer has not.
However, Speer’s return has not been made official yet.
Former Bulldog safety JaCorey Thomas is also attempting a return to college, but it won’t be with Georgia. He’s trying to come back to school and enter the Transfer Portal after spending a minicamp with the Carolina Panthers.
Whether Thomas, Speer or any of these other former NFL players are successful in their pursuits remains to be seen, but the SEC has attempted to make its stance clear.
“Individuals who choose to leave college athletics, sign professional playing contracts, and compete professionally should not then be permitted to return to college competition,” the SEC said in a statement released by the conference Monday night.
Smart doesn’t want to ruffle any feathers or pick fights with other coaches, but it sure seems like he’s in agreement with the SEC.
Don’t expect to see any former NFL players suiting up between the hedges this season.
Add us as a preferred source on Google