Kirby Smart already has plenty of career-defining stats in his 10 years at the University of Georgia. But his ability to produce NFL first round draft choices places him above all active college head coaches. In fact, he has more first rounders (20) than he does losses (19).
Read that sentence again. Smart has elevated 20 players into the highest level of the NFL, yet only has lost 19 times at Georgia.
Is it any wonder that Georgia fans are expecting great things this year from a fresh team with a winner in quarterback Gunner Stockton, an elite receiver in Zachariah Branch and a stout defense? Coach Smart has one win and a full season to go, but it looks like he has the Bulldogs focused in on another title run through the SEC on the way to the National Championship.
Wins just mean more
While understandably proud of his players who get drafted by the NFL, it's winning games at the college level that seem to fuel Coach Smart. With six of those 19 losses being to Alabama, he needs to beat the Crimson Tide this year, both to break the losing streak and to fuel a title run. There could have been more National and SEC championship trophies in Butts-Mehre hall if a few of those six Crimson Tide losses would have been wins.
With Alabama tanking versus Florida State and Texas faltering against Ohio State, the road to victory this season looks measurably better than it did a week ago. There are still dangers lurking ahead (see Ole Miss, Tennessee and Georgia Tech), but Coach Smart has proven he can develop his players at an elite level to not just get drafted, but to produce champions on the football field.
And, looking at the talent Georgia has this year, his 20 first round picks might rise again in next year's draft with more Bulldogs hugging Roger Goodell when their name is called on Draft Night.