The 5 highest rated recruits of the Kirby Smart era and how they panned out at Georgia

Kirby Smart has already landed three five-star recruits in the 2025 class and could have more on the way with Justus Terry and Elijah Griffin who could help bolster the future of Georgia’s defensive line with their commitments. Smart’s elite-level recruiting has turned Georgia into the supreme SEC superpower, and himself into the heir to Nick Saban’s throne, yet not every elite recruit has succeeded in Athens. 

Despite having multiple five-star quarterbacks over his tenure, both of Smart’s national titles came with Stetson Bennet IV a former walk-on and JUCO player at quarterback. The Bulldogs don’t need elite recruits at every position and some of the elite quarterbacks simply haven’t panned out, at least not in Athens. So, let’s take a look at the five highest-rated recruits of the Kirby Smart era and how they panned out.

Coming out of Lake Stevens Washington, Jacob Eason was the No. 2 quarterback in the country in 2016 just behind Shea Patterson who ended up at Ole Miss with Hugh Freeze. Eason took the trip across the country and became Smart’s first blue-chip recruit at Georgia. 

Eason started as a true freshman in 2016, a season that ended with an 8-5 record. He threw for 2,430 yards and 16 touchdowns to eight interceptions but the very next season was beaten out by true freshman Jake Fromm, who led the Bulldogs to the College Football Playoff. Eason then transferred away to Washington and entered the 2020 NFL Draft after one season with the Huskies. 

Despite having plenty of offers, Kelee Ringo honed in on Georgia fairly early in his recruitment process and it paid off for both sides. While Ringo’s 6-foot-2 205-pound frame may force him to convert to more of a hybrid defensive back in the NFL and those concerns dropped him to the fourth round in the 2023 NFL Draft, Ringo became a legend in Athens. 

Ringo played just two seasons for the Bulldogs and won a national championship in both. Oh, and he has this moment, which will live on forever in the memories of Georgia fans. 

Nolan Smith’s career-high sack total came in 2021 when he racked up 3.5 on the year and a career-best 55 tackles. Despite his immense talent coming out of IMG Academy in Bradenton, Florida, Smith became a rotational pass-rusher on Georgia’s loaded defensive line and his senior season was cut short by a torn pectoral muscle. 

Despite a lack of elite production, Smith’s immense talent and absurd speed of the edge made him a first-round pick of the Philadelphia Eagles in 2023 after winning back-to-back national titles with the Bulldogs. 

Ellis Robinson’s career is just getting started at Georgia. The five-star recruit, also out of IMG Academy, may need to take a starting role in 2024 after Georgia lost three defensive backs to the 2024 NFL Draft and three more to the transfer portal. Robinson will likely begin his career behind Daylen Everette and Julian Humphrey, but one injury will force him into action at outside cornerback. 

Jake Fromm didn’t just beat out Eason for the starting spot in Athens, he also held off Justin Fields, the most highly-rated prospect in Georgia football history. Fields, the Kennesaw Georgia native, was only ranked behind Trevor Lawrence from Cartersville Georgia, an all-time great recruit. 

Smart managed to flip Fields’ commitment from Penn State, but after just one season of backing up Fromm, Fields transferred to Ohio State and threw for 41 touchdowns in 2018. Fields delivered on his potential, he just didn’t do it in Georgia. If he had, the Bulldogs may not have needed to wait until 2021 for a national title.