As the dust settles on another college football season, Georgia head coach Kirby Smart finds himself in a familiar position—at the top of the college football world. Smart has built one of the most formidable programs in the sport, securing back-to-back national championships and establishing the Bulldogs as a perennial powerhouse. However, with great success comes great responsibility, and Smart must now navigate the challenges of maintaining Georgia’s dominance in an ever-evolving college football landscape.
National college football writers, analysts, and insiders have weighed in on what Georgia’s head coach must do to ensure his program’s continued success. While Georgia’s position as a recruiting juggernaut, national title contender, and elite football machine is enviable, the road ahead isn’t free of obstacles. With competition getting fiercer and the landscape of college football continuing to change, Smart faces challenges that require proactive and strategic action.
In a recent article, a national college football writer made several key recommendations for Smart to help Georgia continue to thrive in the coming years. Let’s dive into the three must-do’s for Kirby Smart as he seeks to maintain Georgia’s momentum and stay ahead of the competition.
1. Adapt to the Changing Transfer Portal Landscape
One of the most significant developments in modern college football is the emergence of the transfer portal. Players now have the freedom to move between programs, creating a level of player movement and roster turnover that was unprecedented in previous decades. For Kirby Smart and the Georgia Bulldogs, adapting to this new reality is no longer optional—it’s essential.
Smart has long been a master recruiter, consistently bringing in top-tier talent from across the nation. Georgia’s recruiting classes have been among the best in the country, ensuring the Bulldogs have depth and talent at almost every position. However, the transfer portal provides an avenue for Smart to address immediate needs and add experienced players who can contribute right away.
Georgia has already dipped into the portal with success, most notably in the past couple of seasons with the addition of high-impact transfers like wide receiver Jermaine Burton and quarterback JT Daniels. But as the transfer portal continues to grow in importance, it’s clear that Smart must be more strategic in his approach to player acquisition.
The article stresses that Smart needs to develop a comprehensive, calculated strategy for utilizing the transfer portal to supplement Georgia’s recruiting efforts. While the Bulldogs should continue to recruit high school players with elite potential, they must also be willing to look to the portal for experienced, plug-and-play players. This is especially true in positions where Georgia may have a gap or need immediate depth—like wide receiver or secondary.
Additionally, as NIL (Name, Image, and Likeness) deals continue to influence college athletics, the transfer portal will likely see an increase in activity, with athletes choosing to transfer to programs that offer the best opportunities to maximize their earning potential. To stay competitive, Smart must be proactive in ensuring that Georgia’s NIL initiatives align with those of other elite programs, while still keeping his recruiting and team-building philosophy intact.
In short, Kirby Smart needs to become a more dynamic presence in the transfer portal. If he’s able to strike the right balance between developing young talent and adding experienced players when necessary, Georgia will maintain its place at the forefront of college football for years to come.
2. Develop a Next-Generation Quarterback and Stay Ahead of the Offensive Curve
Kirby Smart’s focus has traditionally been on building a dominant defense. Georgia’s defense under Smart has been one of the best in the country year after year, earning the Bulldogs recognition as a defense-first team that can dominate opposing offenses. Smart’s philosophy has been effective, and it’s been a cornerstone of Georgia’s success, particularly in their back-to-back national championship victories.
However, as the college football landscape evolves, so too must Georgia’s offense. The writer points out that while Smart has built a strong and efficient offense, the next phase of Georgia’s development needs to include an elite quarterback capable of leading the Bulldogs through shootouts and tight games, especially against high-powered offenses like those of Alabama, Ohio State, and other perennial contenders.
Stetson Bennett, the Georgia quarterback who led the team to two national championships, was an underrated star who rose to the occasion in big games. But as Bennett departs, Smart faces the crucial task of finding and developing the next great quarterback for the Bulldogs. While Georgia has talent in the quarterback room, including former five-star recruit Brock Vandagriff and Carson Beck, the writer stresses that Smart must prioritize ensuring that one of these players emerges as a high-level starter capable of leading Georgia’s offense into the next era.
This means putting the right pieces around the quarterback and adapting to modern offensive trends, which include an increased focus on the passing game. Smart must continue to recruit elite wide receivers and develop a more balanced offensive approach to keep up with the best offenses in college football. Having a versatile, dynamic quarterback will help Georgia stay competitive, especially as teams like Ohio State and Alabama have showcased the importance of high-powered offenses in today’s college football.
The national writer’s advice is clear: Kirby Smart must evolve his offensive strategy, particularly in the quarterback position. By developing an elite signal-caller and modernizing Georgia’s offensive approach, Smart can keep his team on top in a game that increasingly revolves around offense.
3. Retain Coaching Talent and Avoid Staff Turnover
As a program achieves success, one of the greatest challenges a head coach faces is keeping their staff intact. Coordinators and assistant coaches who have contributed to a program’s rise often become highly coveted targets for other programs or NFL teams looking to hire the best and brightest minds in football. This issue is particularly significant in a world where teams like Georgia can produce elite talent that requires coaching at the highest level.
The writer strongly advises Kirby Smart to focus on retaining his assistant coaches, particularly defensive coordinator Glenn Schumann and offensive coordinator Mike Bobo. Both Schumann and Bobo have been integral to Georgia’s rise as a football powerhouse, and Smart’s ability to keep his staff together will be crucial for continued success. Schumann, in particular, has been lauded for his development of Georgia’s defense, and keeping him at Georgia is paramount for maintaining the program’s strong defensive identity.
Additionally, as Georgia continues to recruit top-tier talent, it’s essential that Smart maintains stability within his staff. High staff turnover can lead to disruptions in recruiting, player development, and team chemistry. The writer emphasizes that Smart should make every effort to create an environment where his assistant coaches are not only incentivized to stay but are given the tools and resources necessary to succeed.
A key component of this retention strategy involves Smart’s leadership style. Building a strong, unified coaching culture is essential to long-term success, and keeping the coaching staff focused on Georgia’s championship goals will help avoid distractions that could arise from staff departures.
Conclusion: Maintaining Excellence Amid Growing Challenges
Kirby Smart’s Georgia Bulldogs have reached the pinnacle of college football, but as the writer points out, maintaining that dominance requires constant adaptation. Smart must recognize the changing dynamics of college football, from the rise of the transfer portal to the need for a next-generation quarterback to lead a modern offense. Additionally, retaining a strong coaching staff is key to ensuring that Georgia remains a championship-caliber team year after year.
If Smart is able to implement these three must-do’s—adapting to the transfer portal, developing a next-gen quarterback, and retaining top coaching talent—Georgia will continue to thrive in the highly competitive world of college football. The Bulldogs are at a crossroads, but with Kirby Smart at the helm and a clear strategic vision in place, Georgia is poised to remain one of the elite programs in the country for the foreseeable future.