Kirby Smart send clear message to NIL check-cashers about skipping Georgia

TL;DR

Kirby Smart emphasized that players should not come to Georgia solely for NIL money, stating that hard work and commitment are valued over financial incentives. He aims to foster a culture where athletes earn their success rather than rely on early financial gains.

Kirby Smart send clear message to NIL check-cashers about skipping Georgia originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

The Georgia Bulldogs are in the midst of Spring Ball in Athens. While the routine has become second nature for Kirby Smart, there are changes happening around college football with a much different landscape.

This current NIL era has pushed big business and record revenue from being under the table and into the mainstream. This isn't the same game compared to five years ago, and Smart has taken his time to safeguard from those who aren't willing to come in and work.

College football's highest-paid coach set the record straight with On3's Chris Low this week. Smart talked about the state of his Bulldogs' program and was clear about his expectations.

"If you’re coming here for a paycheck, then you’re coming to the wrong place,” Smart told Low. “To me, it’s more what you value. Do you value really hard work, and do you want kids to come into your organization and want to work their way up and buy into that they’re working their way up? Or do you want to throw some gaudy numbers out there to high school freshmen and maybe that freshman never realizes how good he can be because he got so much money in the beginning? We’re trying to motivate them to get the next check, the next level.”

As some teams around the nation are hitting $40 million, and in some cases $50 million, Smart doesn't want that to be the focus of why players are at Georgia. The money is tempting, but the right situation will outweigh a temporary payday.

Smart also isn't "pocket watching" other programs because it's not his job and doesn't play into the circumstances set in front of him.

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“To me, 28 million and 40 million are not the same,” Smart said. “Now, if you count 28 to 40 million as everybody’s paying the same there at the top, then that’s probably true if you’re in the game to win the game.

"But it’s like four or five years ago, everybody was like, ‘Ooh, this team is at 20 million,’ and then it was like, ‘Ooh, Ohio State won it all, and they were supposedly at 30 million,’ and none of this is substantiated. You only know what you pay. Nobody’s truly willing to say what they’re really paying.”

Georgia has been one of the most successful teams in the College Football Playoff era and part of the field four of the past five years. Smart has had it all at Georgia and is looking to get back into the National Championship game. This year features one of the most experienced UGA teams in recent years ready to compete.

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Q&A

What did Kirby Smart say about NIL payments for Georgia recruits?

Kirby Smart stated that players coming to Georgia for a paycheck are in the wrong place, emphasizing the importance of hard work and commitment.

How is the NIL era impacting college football according to Kirby Smart?

Kirby Smart noted that the NIL era has transformed college football, moving financial dealings from under the table to mainstream, affecting recruitment and player motivation.

What are Kirby Smart's expectations for players joining the Georgia Bulldogs?

Smart expects players to value hard work and earn their success rather than rely on immediate financial incentives from NIL deals.

Why does Kirby Smart believe early NIL money can be detrimental to young athletes?

Smart believes that early NIL money can prevent young athletes from realizing their potential, as it may lead them to become complacent instead of striving to improve.