Kirby Smart keeps coming back to the same refrain when he sizes up Georgia’s roster: there’s depth, but there’s never quite enough.
That’s been his answer for years, and he said this week he still sees it that way, even while feeling good about the group overall. “I think we have good depth relative to our conference but it's never good enough."
The one spot Smart sounds genuinely comfortable with is up front on the defensive line. He made it clear he likes what he’s seeing there, and he credited the work being put in on a daily basis.
“Our guys have been practicing really hard on defensive line and we’ve got a really good group that’s exciting to watch,” Smart told reporters this week. “They have been doing an exceptional job.
Tray Scott really pushes that group and they've been doing a great job at practice. We’ve probably got as much depth as we've had there.
I don't know that we have one dominant player, but we've gotten a lot of depth deposition and I'm excited to watch those guys go play.”
That kind of answer will sound familiar to Georgia fans, because the Bulldogs have built a reputation for steady, punishing play on the defensive line over the last several seasons. Even with Christen Miller gone, Smart believes the room is stocked with talent and options.
There may not be a clear headliner in the bunch right now, but there are players with real upside. Sophomore Elijah Griffin could be one of the league’s best by season’s end, and a healthy Jordan Hall could give Georgia a real edge. Beyond them, there are veterans who have been around long enough to push for bigger roles and make their mark this fall.
For Smart, the message is simple: he likes the shape of that group. And if Georgia truly has the kind of depth he’s describing, offensive lines trying to move the ball on the Bulldogs are going to have a long day.
In Other News...
Georgia Has A New Reason To Be Furious With LSU
A Louisiana judges injunction has added another layer to the eligibility fight surrounding college football, and Georgia has every reason to watch it closely. The ruling lets certain players, including DaeQuan Wright, return to the sport despite NCAA concerns, after LSU used an eligibility loophole to bring in a player who had previously been under contract with the Cleveland Browns.
For Georgia, the issue goes beyond one roster move. Kirby Smart has already voiced concerns about how fair the ruling is, and SEC Commissioner Greg Sankey has pushed back as well, putting the league squarely in the middle of the dispute. Georgia Governor Brian Kemp also weighed in on social media in support of the SEC and the University of Georgia, underscoring how much this decision has resonated beyond Baton Rouge. [Read more 🡒]
Georgias Opener Could Hinge On One Early Problem They Must Avoid
Georgias opener figures to be shaped by the same basic traits that have driven Kirby Smarts best teams: clean football, early rhythm and a defense that keeps opponents from settling in. The Bulldogs have leaned on a strong turnover margin, fast starts, third-down stops and efficient, quick-hitting offense to control games before they can turn into uncomfortable slugfests. Even special teams matters here, because one mistake in that phase can undo a lot of the discipline Georgia usually tries to build into a game plan.
There is also some natural pressure on the offense to find its footing early after offseason turnover at receiver, which makes the opening script even more important. If Georgia can avoid the kind of early lapse that shifts momentum, it can play from ahead and keep the game on its terms. If it does not, the margin for error gets thinner in a hurry, especially against an opponent waiting for any sign of hesitation or frustration. [Read more 🡒]
Kirby Smart At 50 Still Sounds Like Georgias Championship Standard
Kirby Smart heads into his eleventh season at Georgia still sounding like a coach driven more by the next standard than the last celebration. At 50, he has already built a program defined by championships and relentless expectations, but his attention remains on the same basics that got the Bulldogs here in the first place: winning, coaching, and finding players who fit the culture he wants around him.
Smart has long made it clear that recruiting is about more than talent, and respect remains a trait he keeps coming back to when he talks about the kind of roster Georgia needs. He draws ideas from across the sports world and different philosophies, but the through line is unchanged, he is still pushing to bring glory to his alma mater while coaching with the same urgency that defined him long before the trophies arrived. [Read more 🡒]