What It Really Takes to Beat Georgia on the Recruiting Trail
When it comes to college football recruiting, Georgia has become the gold standard under Kirby Smart. Year after year, the Bulldogs stack elite class after elite class, and the recent commitment of five-star running back Kemon Spell is just the latest proof that the machine in Athens is humming at full power.
But even a powerhouse like Georgia doesn’t win every battle.
Programs across the country still manage to land top-tier talent that Georgia covets. So how exactly does that happen? What does it take to out-recruit a program that’s been to the mountaintop and keeps finding its way back?
According to a general manager from the ACC, the answer is simple-and expensive.
“To get a four-star kid away from Georgia, you have to outspend them by a ton.”
That’s the reality of today’s recruiting landscape in the NIL era. It’s not just about offering more-it’s about offering a lot more. Georgia, with its proven track record of development, championships, and NFL production, has built a brand strong enough that players are willing to turn down bigger paydays elsewhere to be part of that culture.
Let’s be clear: Georgia isn’t skimping on NIL. But what sets them apart is that they don’t have to win every recruitment with the biggest check. Recruits know what comes with wearing the “G” on their helmet-national exposure, top-tier coaching, and a real shot at Sundays.
That’s not to say Georgia doesn’t feel the pressure. In the most recent recruiting cycle, three high-profile prospects who were widely expected to choose Georgia ended up elsewhere after receiving massive NIL offers. Those decisions weren’t about coaching staffs or depth charts-they were about dollars.
Still, the Bulldogs continue to land elite talent without always being the highest bidder, and that speaks volumes about the foundation Kirby Smart has built. He’s not just selling a program-he’s selling results.
Championships. NFL contracts.
A culture that players want to be part of, even if it means leaving some money on the table.
In a college football world where NIL has changed the rules of engagement, Georgia is proving that you can still win with development and vision. Sure, it takes a monster offer to pull a recruit away from Athens-but that’s because Smart’s program has become the destination, not just a stop along the way.
And that’s exactly how Kirby Smart wants it.