The Georgia football Head Coach made quite an interesting statement this afternoon regarding signees sitting out their Senior year.
Kirby Smart has long been known to be a coach that eats, sleeps, and breathes football and recruits players who see the sport the same. Smart was recently asked a question regarding his recruiting style and his thoughts on college football recruits who have signed their letter of intent sitting out games. Smart certainly did not like the idea of taking any time off from football.
Georgia Football Head Coach Kirby Smart Not a Fan of New College Football Recruiting Trends
Recently in college football with the addition of NIL deals, there has been a new trend where players sit out their Senior year of High School after signing their letter of intent. Some players feel the need to protect themselves from injury, and choose to sit out either the entire season, or the remainder of the season after they sign on with a program.
Many recruits see college football as a business moving forward now, which has led to many players choosing to focus on their best interest rather than that of the team. Many current and former college coaches have been outspoken regarding the nature of the sport and NIL deals as it continues to shift the sport. One such coach has been Georgia football Head Coach Kirby Smart, who has been a football enthusiast through and through.
Kirby Smart: ‘I Don’t Really Want Him on My Team’
When Smart was asked directly about the concept and current trend of players sitting out their Senior season after signing, he did not hold back. Smart claimed players who do so lack the ‘heart’ and determination on the football field that he is looking for as a coach.
To quote the Georgia football coach, Smart stated, “If a kid doesn’t play his Senior year because he signed, I don’t really want him on my team.”
Smart made it very clear that he would not want to recruit a player who would rather save themselves and their interests instead of helping their team first. The Georgia football coach built an incredibly successful program through hard coaching and discipline, so the idea of being against a player sitting out does not come as a surprise.
Will College Football Recruits Move Away From Sitting Out Seasons Moving Forward?
As much as Smart makes a point and seems to have a firm stance regarding not recruiting players who sit out, there are so many other schools and coaches that will. Likely, recruits will continue to both reclassify, or if they cannot, sit out their Senior season solely to avoid injury before their collegiate career. There is no doubt the NIL money has begun to influence both players and coaches, and it has become lucrative enough to allow for players to continue this trend.
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