Every year there are a few true freshman who burst onto the scene at Georgia. Typically fans have no idea who they are going to be until the season starts in the fall, but Kirby Smart is already giving some clues as to who those players will be.
Smart hasn't specifically come out and mentioned any one player specifically, but Kaylee Mansell explained how he has said a lot about Tyriq Green without actually saying much at all.
"When he criticizes you just a little bit to keep you humble — also very telling."@MansellKaylee on how to read Kirby Smart's Tyriq Green evaluation.
— DawgNation (@DawgNation) April 10, 2026
Two-way player at Buford. Football IQ that doesn't show up in a recruiting ranking. Worth watching. pic.twitter.com/KZ7CTXRwv5
Kirby Smart has been very impressed by true freshman DB Tyriq Green
Green committed to Georgia last July and ended up being the No. 128 overall player in the country. That high of a ranking comes with a lot of expectations, but that doesn't always mean the player will become a star as a freshman.
Green however might be one of those players that does.
In the above video Mansell is alluding to how Smart will criticize players more if he thinks they are very good. He doesn't want any of his players to get in their heads and think they're too good to keep working hard, so he will get after those players more as a way to motivate them.
And what better player to do that with than a true freshman.
Green has been someone that has been turning heads all spring. In fact, he made an interception during Georgia's first scrimmage last weekend and returned it for a touchdown. That doesn't happen too often from a true freshman in their first few practices at Georgia, but Green is already showing how much of a contributor he can be.
Who knows how much he will play this fall, but he is a top candidate for being a breakout star this year. And Smart is making sure everyone knows that without actually saying anything.