Inside Kirby Smart’s Formula for Success: Recruit the Best and Play Everyone

Inside Kirby Smart’s Formula for Success: Recruit the Best and Play Everyone

Updated Jul. 21, 2025 10:38 a.m. ET

Kirby Smart and his Georgia Bulldogs are dominating the SEC. Alabama fans might not like it, and LSU supporters may dispute it, while Texas fans are asking for a little patience. However, since Kirby Smart made his first appearance in the national title game in 2018, his program has qualified for the College Football Playoff four times in just eight years, securing two national championships along the way. jili 777 app

Smart is the only SEC coach with a run that can rival his success—Nick Saban, who no longer coaches. When discussions highlighted Kalen DeBoer’s impressive record (104-12) before he was slated to succeed Saban at Alabama, it seemed many overlooked that Smart has been consistently winning since he took charge of one of the sport’s most prestigious programs in its most competitive league bk8 sg. phclub register Consider this: Smart boasts a head coaching record of 105-19, with an incredible 53-5 record over the last five years. By the time last year’s College Football Playoff rolled around, he had already claimed the same number of national titles as all 11 other coaches combined. The only coach keeping pace with Smart is Dabo Swinney, whose Clemson program closely resembles an SEC team, despite being outside the league.

Smart represents the pinnacle of what the SEC has to offer, with all paths leading through Athens, Georgia. The reigning SEC champions have not lost a home game in six years, dating back to the time when South Carolina’s coach Will Muschamp infamously took a piece of the hedges while returning to Columbia. That feels like a lifetime ago, as Muschamp has been on Georgia’s staff for the past five years.

The way Smart has brought Georgia back to prominence as one of the nation’s elite programs is by implementing a strategy that others must now adopt in this new era marked by roster caps, revenue sharing, and annual turnover: Recruit the best talent and provide opportunities for everyone.

Though Georgia has not produced Heisman winners, with only two in its football history (Frank Sinkwich and Herschel Walker), the program has seen only one 1,000-yard receiver (Terrence Edwards) and hasn’t had a 1,000-yard rusher since D’Andre Swift in 2019. Despite this, Georgia consistently fills its trophy cabinet and sends first-round draft picks into the NFL, totaling 11 since 2021. Even with a 2025 roster predominantly composed of underclassmen—54% according to Smart—Georgia is determined to defend its SEC title and return to the CFP, thanks to many of those players being four and five-star recruits who gained significant in-game experience in 2024 and will be expected to play vital roles again this season.

“We play a lot of players,” Smart stated during SEC Media Days. “I think we had the third or fourth most players with over 100 snaps. So, if you come to Georgia, you expect to play. We aim to provide opportunities for everyone, allowing many players to gain valuable experience, and we’ll assess our position in fall camp.”

Smart’s philosophy was inspired by Saban, who in his final season at Alabama started a true freshman at safety: Caleb Downs. Downs went on to lead the 2023 Crimson Tide in tackles, shattering a 40-year record for most tackles in a season by a freshman, finishing with 107 total. jili.com login After Saban’s retirement, Downs transferred to Ohio State, where he became one of the nation’s top defenders, starring for the defending national champions.

It’s not solely about spotting talent that sets Smart apart during this era. Each year, there are over 30 five-star prospects emerging from high school, and not all of them choose Georgia. Smart excels at identifying the five to seven recruits that align with his program’s needs and culture. “You can say what you want, but many people in college football today, especially in the SEC, feel comfortable where they are,” Smart remarked. 777pub casino register “This is a pretty decent life. I’m earning 200K a year. I’m quite comfortable. But comfort won’t lead you to your goals.”

The remainder of the SEC will need to take notes and follow Smart’s lead, compensating players not just with money, but with the privilege of playing early and often. They may not compile stats that have media members shouting their names, but they will develop into NFL-worthy players who reach their second contracts and compete for championships. Nothing in college football is guaranteed, and everything carries some risk.

Smart has navigated through the emergence of the transfer portal, the ability for players to play immediately after transferring within the FBS, the rise of NIL deals, and now, the beginning of revenue-sharing with players. None of these changes have hindered him or Georgia from doing what is necessary to stay at the top of the toughest league in football. And yes, Kirby Smart is more than okay with that.

What are your thoughts on Kirby Smart’s coaching strategy?