Kirby recently sounded off on NIL, making a point that could shed some light on why Jackson Cantwell opted for Miami and not Athens.
I’m assuming here that Kirby is referencing a freshman five-star making more than a senior five-star starter, and not a benchwarmer, but I get what he’s saying. The Twixer above has a point, in that Kirby seems to be navigating these waters fine, even with the perception that some have made that “you come to Georgia on a discount”.
I’d imagine that one of Kirby’s biggest pitches to these young men still centers around development. Even without cap limits (for the moment) on some programs offering a high school junior (!) who hasn’t even seen the field of competitive collegiate football a two-year, 2.5 million per kind of contract, it’s hard to argue with Georgia’s recent draft success and the ensuing money that could result, clearly trumping a sizable NIL deal in the long run.
And, hey, if you’re good when you get there, just look at the potential money you could rake in if you show your worth in the league.
Doesn’t Kirby do well with development on the defensive side of the ball? I think he does, doesn’t he?
I’ve seen a good bit of chatter of “can’t blame a kid” and, yes, I can’t blame Cantwell or any other teenager or youthful twenty-something for chasing money, especially if the window for an NFL career is razor thin or if the position doesn’t yield the worth above for Parsons.
I think it stands to reason that we are still blessed to have Kirby at the helm at Georgia, and he’s been doing a great job with continuing to recruit and help guys see that window opening and that the narrow pathway gets narrower when you’re not being developed and competing – in practice – at high levels. That window was narrow anyway, and always has been…but it seems that window is widened a bit when you sign on to play at Georgia.
Just ask Dan Jackson.
Kirby’s right. It’s going to start affecting other sports and we need some guard rails so schools can plan. This current NIL landscape is crazy and I don’t know how the coaches operate in it.
Each kid has their own situation, but they’re still just kids. I hope (but doubt) they are getting good advice before making these decisions.
Why would anyone think that high school athlete from Missouri who is being represented by Drew Rosenhaus sign with any school besides Miami? A significant portion of his client base has been made up of former players from the U. He graduated from Miami. His agency is a based in Miami. His director of player development is a former client, Duane Starks, who is a graduate of Miami. Rosenhaus was part of the “The U” 30 for 30 documentaries.
Also he is great at what he does and he will advocate for his clients to get as much money as possible all the time. The fact that Miami was offering the most money was a bonus for him.
Totally agree with your take on Kirby.
ESPN
By
Cory Nightingale
Published: May 15, 2025 Ā· 9:57 PM EDT
ESPN released a preview for the 2025 college football season on Thursday, revealing a bevy of information on a bevy of topics exactly 100 days before Week 0.
Among the previewās categories was a section with 10 āwild predictionsā for the upcoming season. Now, this part of ESPNās preview was meant to be a little on the edge ā thus the word āwildā in the subhead describing the predictions below it.
But wild or not wild, No. 4 on the list is sure to raise eyebrows throughout the SEC and specifically in Athens. ESPN is predicting that Georgia, which under Kirby Smart has become a certifiable powerhouse, will miss the 2025 College Football Playoff.
ESPN has lost their minds.
Posted by Whb209
Most guys who are me people and just grab the gusto, usually arenāt worth a shit anyway.
Jerry Jones is an idiot. Those contracts to Parsons and Dak will set the franchise back another decade. At least he grabbed Pickens to offer some entertainment.