Two of the primary disappointments that highlighted the tail end of the Mark Richt era at Georgia were his inability to reel in some of the big in-state fish and to effectively groom the ones he did sign. It may still be too early to tell if successor Kirby Smart can develop that talent, but there is no denying that he has started building a wall around the state to keep that talent. Going back to his days at Alabama, Smart played a pivotal role in getting top recruits to stay home and away from the likes of bitter rivals Auburn and LSU. During his short time with the Bulldogs, he has already locked up the majority of the top 20 in-state prospects for the class of 2017, including five-star prospect Richard LeCounte from Liberty County and Houston County signal-caller Jake Fromm. While Smart has already put Georgia in contention to land some blue-chippers for 2018, the question still remains: Can he maintain this success?
Eliminate the Opposition Other than the big three of Florida, California, and Texas, Georgia produces more FBS talent than any other state. What makes Georgia unique from the former three is the presence of one true powerhouse program, the University of Georgia. Yes, Georgia Tech does compete in a Power 5 Conference, but an outdated offensive attack coupled with demanding academic requirements make it a struggle for the Yellow Jackets to consistently go head-to-head for high quality players. It seems like a no-brainer for kids to stay home, but with talent diffused all throughout the state, schools from the outside have continually enticed recruits elsewhere.
Smart can use proximity as an advantage over the competition in two ways. First, strong relationships have always existed between Bulldog coaches and local high school coaches. Smart has already used this as a plus, and he continues to strengthen those bonds. The coaches have seen their players develop over the course of four years, and in most cases the last thing they want is to guide a student-athlete in the wrong direction. Second, Smart is making a diligent effort to not let Auburn, Florida State, or Florida poach his highly prioritized recruits from South Georgia. In 2016, Chauncey Manac and Chris Barnes stayed. This year, it was LeCounte and highly touted linebacker Nate McBride from Vidalia. Being able to garner interest year in and year out from the local recruits will go a long way toward revitalizing the Georgia brand.
Building an Offensive Identity Kirby Smart possesses one of the most brilliant defensive minds in today’s college game. Recruits are well aware of the names he developed while with the Crimson Tide; from safeties Landon Collins and Ha-Ha Clinton-Dix to Reggie Ragland and Marcel Dareus in the front seven, the list goes on and on. What Smart must now do is successfully sell prospects on the other side of the ball by showing that offensive coordinator Jim Chaney’s offense works.
Chaney did not get off to the flying start many fans envisioned. For starters, Chaney had an in-season meeting with star running backs Nick Chubb and Sony Michel during which the two voiced their displeasure with the offensive play calling. Meanwhile, suspect offensive line play and inconsistency from the receiver position made Jacob Eason’s development quite the rollercoaster ride.
Smart turned those shortcomings into positives on the recruiting trail by capturing the signatures of athletes from Metro Atlanta. Wideouts Jeremiah Holloman (Newton) and Trey Blount (Pace) will bring playmaking ability to a position group in severe need of it, while offensive lineman Andrew Thomas (Pace) should add much needed depth in the trenches.
Is Continued Success Realistic? The question remains: Can Kirby Smart maintain his successful in-state recruiting? In short, I believe he can. It may sound cliché, but if you win, they will come. Having been part of four national championship teams, Smart has proven that he is a winner and no stranger to pressure. Fresh off his first year at his alma mater, he was able to lead the Bulldogs to an eight-win campaign and a solid bowl win over TCU, all while starting a true freshman at quarterback.
It will take time for Smart to get the right players for his system who will commit to the process laid out. However, returning the two best players on offense (Chubb and Michel) along with outside linebackers Lorenzo Carter and Davin Bellamy will make the transition into year two a lot smoother. Getting those upperclassmen to stay and believe as well as adding the fresh faces of the 2017 cycle into the mix could be a recipe for success, and sooner rather than later. Smart has not only positioned Georgia as the early SEC East favorite for next season, but he has shed light on what the program’s future could have in store for upcoming in-state recruits.
ITG-SG / February 2017
Fastbreak
Lambert Bales
Recruiting on the Home Front
