#93K may be a nice sales pitch, but it pales in comparison to what Kirby has to offer recruits this morning.
Georgia set a program record by landing three players in the first round of the NFL draft.
Never before had the Bulldogs done this. But after a season that ended with a national championship appearance, the Bulldogs saw Roquan Smith (eighth overall, Chicago Bears), Isaiah Wynn (23rd overall, New England Patriots) and Sony Michel (31st overall, New England Patriots) all drafted in the first round.
That is some bad ass player development right there.
And let’s give Mark Richt a little credit here, too… especially for taking advantage of the opportunity Jeff Ulbrich gifted him.
Get The Picture 
Kirby and the staff deserve a lot of credit for the development of those 3 guys especially R and Isaiah and for convincing Sony that a 4th year would be good for him.
Richt deserves a lot of credit for pulling Sony and Isaiah out of Florida and for never giving up on R.
Always. Be. Closing. (And … Always. Be. Developing.)
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Clearly, the drafted UGA players got coached up, and just as clearly, the idea that “the cupboard was bare” some folks were flogging this time last year (to his credit, not KS) was just silly. Today and tomorrow at the draft should be further proof of both.
The future is bright for UGA; this staff can coach talent AND recruit it. A lot of staffs can only do one or the other.
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I have to wonder if either would have gone first round had Richt still been their coach. My guess would be yes on Roquan, no on Wynn, and no on Sony.
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Same guesses here.
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Smith’s size was mentioned (a lot) as a negative and even a weakness by Cy Brown. Would someone remind them all that Thomas Davis is nearly the same size and no one says anything much about his size. At least not to his face..
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I hope Ro has the kind of career that TD has had. What a great kid. And both coming from tiny little towns in Sowega is great.
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Someone posted we needed three First Rounders for seven years to match another team’s high standard of players getting drafted. Welp, Year One check! Great night for those young men, and both head coaches and the hard workers behind the scenes in the program. Just all sorts of positive vibes for the fans to dig.
On another note: last night was reason number 28-3 why I never pull for the Falcons. Tommie Brady’s (looks and plays like God) team picks two DGD’s in the first round and the Falcons never draft UGA players.
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I think Wynn could have been the pick for the Falcons, had he been there at 26. But crap, even I who wanted O-Line or D-Line, was thinking Ridley is still there he has to be the pick.
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Yeah, the Pats getting that pick at 23 probably kept him from the Falcons
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Guess I have to stop hoping a meteor will hit Gillette Stadium…
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A few thoughts. Wynn made out like a bandit. Reports are he will play tackle at NE. That should add a few million to his pocket vs guard as everyone had projected.
The cupboard was not bare, but there were some holes behind the cans in front.
I’m a little surprised that Pruitt, et al, did not tweet out congratulations to every teams first round picks…sure there is a 6 degrees of connection on all of them.
As for the Falcons not picking Dawgs, get over it. Neither of the Pats guys made sense for Atlanta at the spot they were picking.
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I’d give Pruitt a pass on claiming Roquan if he wants. To me, he, Ekeler and co. pulled off one of our greatest recruiting victories when they convinced Roquan from signing the UCLA NOI and getting the info that the DC was headed to the falcons. I’m not sure who really gets the credit for that, but that was some real-time ‘cruitin.
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I know that this G-DAY thing really sticks in your craw, but one comment Kirby made was that G-DAY was about maintaining momentum:, a NC game appearance, #1 recruiting class, #2 national spring game attendance (would have been #1 but for the renovations), and now 3 1st rounders. Sure any 3 of those would yield a ton of momentum, sure the spring game attendance is the weakest of the 4, but why cede any momentum voluntarily? Shakespeare put it thus: “there is a tide in the affairs of men which taken at the flood leads on to fortune; omitted and all the voyages of their life is bound in shallows and in miseries”, i.e., strike while the iron is hot Dawg fans. G.A.T.A.
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Yeah, this G-Day thing really sticks in my craw… that’s why I go almost every year. LOL.
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No, I’m talking about Kirby using it as a recruiting device, which admitted “mildly irritated” you a couple of days ago counselor, and then you followed up with the post yesterday asking the commentariat whether we thought it made any difference with recruits. So yeah I think it’s obvious that sticks in craw. I’m not hating on you about it, I just don’t poo poo Kirby’s position on it either.
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Kirby using it as a recruiting device isn’t what rubbed me the wrong way. If you’re gonna challenge my veracity — nice counselor reference, by the way — at least get your facts straight first.
Glad you’re not hating on me, though.
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Jesus, you are such a smart ass.
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He’s good like that…ain’t it entertaining?
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I didn’t spend a lot of time on the particular blog Bluto wrote the other day, but I think his question or point was what we thought the level of impact the size of spring-game-crowds made on recruits. Especially since no recruit ever mentioned it when asked the question on the influences that made them choose one school over another. Most cited education, early playing time, position choices, etc. I don’t remember any ever mentioning spring-day-game-crowds. If not mistaken, I think that was what the Senator was questioning.
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And the “counselor” thing I meant as respect, one of your classmates in law school was a mentor of mine.
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In your post entitled “Today in it just means more” of 04.24.18 you stated: “When Kirby Smart turned Georgia’s spring game from a pleasant day trip for the fan base into a recruiting mission, I was mildly irritated, but recognized that at least he’s given us something to be excited about and genuinely grateful for our turnout”. So again, that post coupled with yesterday’s and today’s led me to, reasonably I think, conclude that Smart ‘s use of G-Day as a recruiting device was something that irritated you and which you thought was of dubious value, but we’re willing to humor CKS on since he’s been successful.
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The key words there being “into a recruiting mission”.
I don’t have a problem in the world with Kirby using G-Day as a recruiting tool. He’s obviously done well with it.
I do have a problem being made to feel that my attendance is part of a mission, as opposed to an entertainment choice on my part.
If you can’t see the difference, you’re not trying.
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Your distinction between “recruiting mission” and “recruiting device” and your objection to the former but not that later is noted. I’m still not sure why you got salty about the “craw” comment, all I meant was that I recognized something about G-Day obviously bothered you, a fact which you now seem to have admitted. Regardless, I don’t necessarily disagree with your sentiments, I was just pointing out that I see Kirby’s POV also and as long as he keeps winning at his current clip, I’m willing to indulge him and join the “mission”. I know in the past you have said you don’t follow recruiting much, if that is still your modus operandi, I can tell you there have been a number of articles in recent days with recruits really commenting positively on the experience with the fan presence and enthusiasm being a big part of that. I saw two today after our exchange, both on Dawg nation.
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Poo-pooing the Senator is my job! LOL! BTW, great Shakespeare quote.
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I must say that the Senator has become more acerbic over the last couple of years – and I think he would admit that he has indeed become more cynical. As a fan who comes here to relax and read about the Dawgs, the personal bickering is not a big selling point.
Hope nobody takes this the wrong way or is offended by this, it’s just my observation. Obviously I still enjoy the blog, I’m here every day.
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This.
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Man, I hope you’re not gonna ask for a refund. I’ve already spent your subscription money. 😉
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Those UGA valve stem caps ain’t gonna pay for themselves, boss. 😉
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Ain’t that the truth.
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Last night was essentially the high water mark on Georgia football for the last 38 years.
It has been an incredible run.
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This run is just getting started!
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I think it speaks to what most of us felt was always true – Richt wasn’t the best developer of talent. That’s why guys like David Andrews and Cordy Glenn took the long way being low round (or undrafted) draft picks to high end NFL players. Very classy of Richt to congratulate his former players, but this is absolutely a testament to Kirby’s developmental prowess.
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Corey Glenn was a 2nd rounder … not exactly Mr. Irrelevant.
On Andrews, a lot of people bitched about Richt taking offensive linemen from small private schools. Andrews was one of those guys … not exactly a blue chip prospect.
People can complain about roster management and Richt … very legitimate. To say he didn’t develop players is just not supportable.
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Cordy … damn you, Tim Cook and AutoCorrect
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Not Cordy I was thinking about then. We’ve had quite a few linemen who were drafted low or went undrafted that have ended up being high quality players in the league, though.
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Geno Atkins was a 4th round pick and a perennial all-pro.
Clint Boling perhaps? Also a 4th Rounder.
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Ben Jones was a 4th rounder and has also been good in the league
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Neither Boling nor Jones were blue chip college prospects … Atkins was highly rated. They were developed into pro prospects during their time at Georgia. Some don’t want to give CMR his due related to player development, but he turned out a bunch of good professionals.
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Concur!
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Damn. Time flies.
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Just don’t shoot at it as it passes over!!
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I guess that makes 93 players in the NFL for Pruitt’s Vols?
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For the life of me, I can’t figure out why there are people here who love to jump on you at every turn for literally no reason whatsoever. Makes no sense. After all, you are providing a free blog service with continual UGA football related info, along with commentary. There are no monthly subscription fees, no forcing of people to join and/or participate, etc. It’s basically akin to donating your time at a local food bank or shelter, and some weird guy keeps coming up to you complaining about the way you make sandwiches, how many hours of your time you donated last month, etc.
Don’t get me wrong, debates are great, and I’ve personally disagreed with you many times over the years. But with some folks here, they clearly have an agenda, which is to complain about literally everything you say (or twist your words in effort to fit said agenda).
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It works the other way as well with Bluto griping about anything you post, no matter the trivial nature. I just laugh at it as give and take, but, to be fair we ask for it many times. If you can’t take it here, don’t post.
Sometimes Bluto has good reason for pushback that may stem from an old faux pas or professional slur from the poster. We are all Dawgs here and we sometimes snarl at each other over an old bone. It ain’t the bone so much as not wanting the other Dawg to gnaw on it.
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Mark Richt could save a little old lady from being hit by a car crossing the street and the same haters on here would accuse him of slowing traffic.
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HAHAHA! As bad as I am, when Preacher Coach starts saving old ladies from traffic; I will personally welcome him to the “In the Arena” Club! In all seriousness, Richt deserves some credit and thanks for last night. Best of all, I believe each of those young men would recognize Coach Richt given the chance.
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Josh Rosen picked #10 overall and he is PISSED…..sounds like a real titty baby to me. Picked too high imo.
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Miami fans are likely happy this morning about their fine coach recruiting 3 -1st rounders.
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I’m surprised that 39 comments deep no one has addressed the fact that replacing 3 1st-rounders (with more good news to come tonight) is likely to take a toll this year. We will have arrived when we can replace 3 and 4 #1 picks every year — like the behemoth to the West — and keep on rolling.
Now if this DOES prove to be the year we show we can lose 5-6 high draft choices and keep on rolling, I’m OK with that, too.
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I think we keep rolling. Swift, Holyfield, Zeus (when healthy), Herrien, and Cook will get plenty of yards. And the OL should be upgraded from last year. Fromm has an entire year under his belt and we have a fabulous backup.
Defensively, we might be slightly thin along the DL, but I think we have the young pups to make plays.
My only concern in any of this stems from our good luck regarding injuries last season and a potential for that to come back and bite us this year. Without several serious injuries, I see us as being back in Atlanta and getting ready to whip Bama’s ass.
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Agree with all you said. The improved OL + Swift, Holyfield, Herrien should equal Chubb & Sony with the old-less-good OL. And Kirby is working on the DL depth. We are as good as any teams on our schedule even with the talent leaving.
Injuries would be the unknown ingredient that could throw a monkey wrench in our season.
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yEiGh!
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And Nick Chubb got picked with the 3rd pick in the second round. That’s 4 guys getting picked pretty high off the same team.
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