Half of college football is recruiting. Of course, other things matter like developing talent, in-game coaching, etc.
However, at the end of the day, programs like Washington, TCU, Cincinnati, Notre Dame, and Michigan State have enough talent to get to the dance but won’t ever win a National Championship over Alabama, Georgia, Clemson, LSU, and Ohio State.
Right now, Kirby Smart‘s team is the one on top of the mountain. The Bulldogs are shooting to become the first in the modern era to win three straight titles. The regular season features very little resistance, but Georgia will have to face one of LSU, Bama, or Texas A&M in Atlanta, which will likely be the toughest game to date.
Still, if Smart runs the table during the regular season, it likely won’t matter what happens in the SEC Championship. The Dawgs will once again earn a bid to the College Football Playoffs. They’re the betting favorites for a reason. It’s a clear path to the CFP, and Georgia has as much, if not more talent than anyone in the country.
Kirby Smart can recruit, motivate, scheme, develop, and hire coordinators; he’s the total package. However, back to the subject of this piece. No matter how of good of a motivator, schemer, or CEO a head coach is; recruiting matters most, and there are few doing it like the boys in Athens.
It’s not just about stacking five-star recruits, though. Personality, fit, and ethos matter… and even portal risk, which Smart pointed out recently.
“We’ve turned down talented players (who were portal risks)…”
“It doesn’t matter how good you are if you’re not going to be here. … Let’s find 25 guys who are going to stick & stay.”
Kirby Smart talks about recruiting in the age of the transfer portal.
Full interview ➡️… pic.twitter.com/Z7wFLbsIDI
— Jon Tweets Sports (@jontweetssports) August 24, 2023
The Dawgs are doing it better than anyone, but it’s more than just going after the most talented kids. Roster construction has become a full-time job at the collegiate level, like it is in the NFL, especially with the introduction of the transfer portal. Getting kids into the program and keeping them is tougher than ever, and Kirby Smart’s Georgia Bulldogs are adapting.
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