These days, money talks louder than any playbook in college football, turning the sport into a high-stakes auction. The transfer portal spins like a roulette wheel, with recruits prioritizing money over glory. Folks barely stopped talking about Bryce Underwood’s staggering $12 million deal when Nico Iamaleava barged in with his $4 million demand, rewriting the CFB landscape. But if you think that’s the end, then you might need a moment before reading what’s coming next. This time, Kirby Smart lost a bidding war to Mario Cristobal, sparking controversy and igniting a firestorm around Miami’s program.
Well, let’s get straight to the point: five-star Jackson Cantwell was leaning heavily towards Kirby Smart’s program. But then, out of nowhere, Mario Cristobal and Miami came along with a rumored massive $2 million deal that changed everything. Even though Cantwell’s family is saying the money wasn’t the main reason he picked the Hurricanes, folks online aren’t really buying it. And the host over at UGA Football on Dawg Post is also feeling the same.
“I think we might be at a peak of NIL and how much these top high school prospects are getting paid. I mean, they have agents. Jackson Cantwell has Drew Rosenhaus as his agent, right, getting him through this NIL process? So for the Miami fans that you know were up in arms talking about, ‘Oh, he only went to Miami for the staff, and they’re a winning program, and they always do things right.’ You know that wasn’t it. If Drew Rosenhaus is your agent, that’s all you need to know. Money played a major part in that decision,” Matt DeBary said. And can we blame him?
Mario Cristobal has a history of snatching players right from Georgia’s arms with a big bag. Remember Carson Beck’s $4 million NIL deal?
But Kirby Smart isn’t losing sleep over clarity. And he didn’t mince words before making his stance clear on offering such a big amount to a rookie. “I just want it to be able to have a freshman come in and not make more than a senior,” Smart said. He added, “And I’d like for other sports to be able to still survive. We’re on the brink of probably one to two years away from a lot of schools cutting sports. What’s the pushback going to be then when you start cutting non-revenue sports? I don’t want that to happen.”
The worst part is that NIL is not just affecting the entire dynamics of CFB but also making things tougher for the coaches. “It’s one of those challenging times for everybody,” he said. “Our coaches and assistants are the ones on the road having to deal with it, and the head coaches are out trying to raise money and playing golf tournaments.” The noise from money-driven players doesn’t faze Smart. Georgia’s success, including national titles in 2021 and 2022, came after NIL became legal, showing their experience in this area. Since 2017, he has witnessed Georgia maintain its elite status by consistently securing top-4 recruiting classes each year.
The transfer portal and NIL couldn’t shake Kirby Smart’s foundation. Georgia’s sent more NFL players (55) than any other school in the last five drafts and continues to develop talent like 5-star QB Jared Curtis (2026). Smart said, “For me, we’re not going to change how we coach, how we develop, and how we grow things,” he said, noting that parents appreciate Georgia’s high standards.
“Now parents always tell me, ‘I really want my son to come play there because I know you’re still going to coach him the right way. You’re going to push him; you’re going to demand excellence. You’re not going to run from the fact that they could leave. That is inevitable. They could leave.” So, Kirby Smart doesn’t fear the NIL ruining his team, but what about their dark past?
Are Kirby Smart’s Bulldogs in serious trouble?
This season is all about redemption for Kirby Smart and the Georgia Bulldogs. Last year’s offense was a disaster, leading the nation with 36 dropped passes. The defense wasn’t much better, allowing 329.7 yards per game. Georgia’s rushing attack was especially weak, averaging a dismal 124.4 yards per game—their worst under Smart and second-worst in the SEC (only ahead of LSU).
Now, with Gunner Stockton taking the reins at quarterback for this season, there are high expectations but also lingering questions. And if Kirby Smart wants a successful season, he needs to fix that falling run game. That’s exactly what analyst Josh Pate stressed, saying, “Georgia’s got to be able to run the ball at least much better than they did last year….any proud program that struggled to do something they typically are able to do spends the entire winter, spring, and summer figuring out how to do that thing. So that is one of the main things they’ve been focused on there. I don’t doubt that. I know that.”
But let’s not forget Kirby Smart’s defense was also not that great last year, ranking 55th nationally in EPA per play allowed. While the pass rush offered stability thanks to stars like Jalon Walker and Mykel Williams (both now in the NFL), this year’s unit faces a massive rebuilding project. They lost seven of their top eight pass rushers to the NFL Draft or transfer portal, a combined 1,600+ pass rush snaps. Only Christen Miller and Gabe Harris return with significant experience (100+ snaps). Uncharacteristically, Kirby Smart and his staff used the transfer portal to add Elo Modozie from Army to bolster the depleted pass rush.
The worst part is that Damon Wilson’s move to the Missouri Tigers left a gap in the team’s defense. However, with a strong 16% pressure rate and seven sacks last season, Elo Modozie should step up to provide solid pass rush support. But Georgia needs more than one effective pass rusher. Christen Miller, a defensive tackle, significantly outperformed his position average in pressures and wins last year, despite a low sack total. He’s expected to dominate inside. Gabe Harris will start opposite Williams but needs a major improvement this year.
Now, with everything hanging on the line, can Kirby Smart piece together a team that silences the noise, or will Georgia face another stumble?
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