Kirby Smart is only asking one thing from he players that choose to come play for him, to have passion for the game that they play. When speaking at SEC Media Days, Smart was candid about what he wants from guys coming into his program and also what he just isn't seeing in college football nowadays.
Smart talked about the type of guys he wants playing in his program and even said that if they are the best players in the country, he has two things she wants from his players.
"If you don't love the game, don't come to Georgia," Smart said. "If you don't want to be coached and you don't want to be coached hard, don't come to Georgia."
Smart even honestly said that the guys who can have passion for the game and a willingness to be coached hard are the ones who tend to be the most successful. The Georgia head coach doesn't feel like those guys are coming into college football now with a lot of passion and energy, and if that is the case, he certainly doesn't want them in a Georgia uniform.
"If you don't want to be coached, and you don't want to be coached hard, don't come to Georgia."
— SEC Network (@SECNetwork) July 15, 2025
Kirby Smart on playing for @GeorgiaFootball 💪 pic.twitter.com/EuJLqzYiGO
Kirby Smart has proven he knows how to win and win consistently
Kirby Smart has the reputation and record to be able to say those things about college football and players now. Being. top ranked coach who coaches a top ranked team and has multiple National Championships under his belt has earned him the right to be completely candid about the type of players he wants in his program.
Smart didn't win those titles with just a little bit of luck and some fairy dust. He won those titles with hard work and hard coaching, holding his players to a high standard. In this day in age in college football, players want to be successful right away, and if they aren't, they transfer, when in reality, they need to realize it is okay to take time to develop.
Development is key to anything. Just look at Smart; he didn't become the head coach at Georgia and immediately win national titles. It took time to get to the mountaintop, and now he is doing everything possible to stay there. So, if a player is looking for a program to play for, Smart seems to have it figured out, and Georgia is the place to be as long as you can handle it.