One of the biggest forces shaping college football in recent years has been Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL). While many programs have strong NIL initiatives, Georgia is widely regarded as one of the nation’s leaders in this space.
That said, Kirby Smart and his staff remain elite recruiters, excelling in relationship-building just as in previous eras. By combining top-tier recruiting with a strong NIL presence, Georgia is positioned to maintain its dominance in talent acquisition for years to come.
However, On3’s Pete Nakos shared an intriguing report on Wednesday, quoting a source who stated:
“Georgia got some guys for a steal. Kirby really leaned into some old-school methods to bring players in at a discount.”
Kirby Smart reportedly got recruits at a good deal
According to Nakos’ report, Kirby Smart and his staff secured the No. 2 recruiting class in the nation while managing to land players at a favorable NIL value. This suggests that Georgia leveraged strong relationship-building and traditional recruiting methods to assemble this class.
If true, this would be a significant win for Georgia, as it would highlight not only Smart’s elite recruiting abilities but also the genuine desire of top prospects to play for the Bulldogs. However, Georgia On3 insider Rusty Mansell has disputed this claim, stating that the Bulldogs did not sign their class at a discount.
With both Simmons and Mansell being credible sources, it’s difficult to determine the full truth. Ultimately, though, it may not matter—Georgia has now secured a top-two recruiting class for the third straight year, and as long as that trend continues, the exact method behind it is secondary.
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