Tag: Georgia Football

Kirby Smart breaks silence on Jaden Rashada lawsuit

Georgia football head coach Kirby Smart has made his first public comments on quarterback Jaden Rashada’s lawsuit

With SEC spring meetings underway in Destin, the pending litigation between Georgia quarterback Jaden Rashada and Florida head coach Billy Napier as well as two prominent UF boosters has been a major storyline. Kirby Smart made his first public comments on the situation, a day after Napier and SEC commissioner Greg Sankey did the same.

“I don’t really get caught up in that,” Smart said. “That’s outside of my bubble, and I worry about what’s in my bubble.” Initial reports have stated that Smart gave his approval to Rashada to move forward with the lawsuit, which Smart says he was informed of the day before the announcement.

Rashada’s suit pertains to an NIL deal worth $13.85 million that he claims was promised to him at Florida and backed by Napier and others that went on to fall apart, leading to his transfer to Arizona State in the aftermath. Rashada left the Sun Devils to join Georgia this past April and is seen as a potential heir apparent to Carson Beck following this season.

Massive 4-star DL includes Georgia among final schools

Class of 2025 DL Mariyon Dye has Georgia football among his final eight schools…

Georgia is in the running for class of 2025 four-star defensive lineman Mariyon Dye out of Elkhart High School (Indiana). The 6-foot-5, 255-pound edge defender has a massive 7-foot-1 wing span.

Dye is rated as the No. 16 edge, the No. 137 recruit in the country and the No. 3 player in Indiana, per 247Sports Composite. He earned a scholarship from the Bulldogs in October.

Dye is down to Georgia, LSU, Tennessee, Michigan, Ohio State, Penn State, Florida State and Purdue. He currently has official visits scheduled to Purdue (May 31), UGA (June 7), OSU (June 14), FSU (June 18) and UT (June 21).

Kirby Smart’s Bulldogs are apt at signing elite talent along the defensive line. A large part of that success is due to the level of development that is provided in Athens. With Mykel Williams and Chaz Chambliss likely off to the NFL draft next spring, the door will be open for the next line of edge defenders to make their mark.

Georgia is off to a decent start in the class of 2025 and has several top recruiting targets committing over the next month.

‘I’m comfortable with my actions’, Billy Napier comments on lawsuit from Georgia’s Jaden Rashada

Bill Napier believes he’s in the clear despite lawsuit from Georgia football QB Jaden Rashada…

Florida head coach Billy Napier commented on the lawsuit filed by Georgia quarterback Jaden Rashada on Tuesday at the SEC’s spring meetings.

“I’m comfortable with my actions,” Napier said, according to On3’s Jesse Simonton. “‘I’m thankful for the university’s support and we’re going to keep it at that and let the process take it’s course.

Napier went on to state that he couldn’t comment specifically about the details of the ongoing lawsuit.

Georgia head coach Kirby Smart reportedly gave the Arizona State transfer “his blessing” to move forward with the suit that claims Rashada was lied to in an effort to get him to flip his commitment from Miami to Florida in 2023. Rashada reportedly signed a $13.8 million NIL deal and flipped to the Gators before backing out of his letter of intent after the first payment wasn’t fulfilled.

Napier is named in the suit, along with one of the top Gator boosters, Hugh Hathcock, and former staffer Marcus Castro-Walker.

SEC commissioner Greg Sankey was also asked for his thoughts on the Jaden Rashada suit on Tuesday. He thinks there will be more of its kind down the road.

“I’m not a fan of lawsuits,” Sankey said. “That’s what I think. It’s not the only lawsuit involving a coach in the last year. It won’t be the last. We have a legal system and people have a right to pursue whatever they view as grievances.”

SEC commissioner Greg Sankey comments on Jaden Rashada’s lawsuit

SEC commissioner Greg Sankey discusses UGA quarterback Jaden Rashada’s lawsuit against Florida coach Billy Napier and others

Southeastern Conference commissioner Greg Sankey spoke with the media ahead of the SEC spring meetings in Destin, Florida. Sankey commented on Georgia Bullldogs quarterback Jaden Rashada’s lawsuit against Florida Gators head coach Billy Napier and others.

“I’m not a fan of lawsuits,” said Sankey. “That’s what I think. It’s not the only lawsuit involving a coach in the last year. It won’t be the last. We have a legal system and people have a right to pursue whatever they view as grievances.”

The landscape of college athletics is rapidly changing in the conference realignment, name, image and likeness and transfer portal era. Georgia football head coach Kirby Smart reportedly approved of Rashada’s lawsuit. It will be interesting to see how the lawsuit unfolds in the legal system.

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Another major topic of discussion for Greg Sankey at the SEC spring meetings is availability reports. Teams in the SEC are notoriously murky at discussing injuries. The conference could pursue a more uniform system in the future, so teams don’t try to gain an advantage by avoiding disclosing injuries.

Georgia ranked atop USA TODAY post-spring rankings

The Georgia Bulldogs are ranked No. 1 in USA TODAY’s post-spring rankings.

Georgia leads USA TODAY’s list of post-spring college football rankings.  USA TODAY has a top five that features Ohio State, Texas, Oregon, and Notre Dame, respectively.

On the reasoning for the Bulldogs taking the top spot, USA TODAY’s Paul Myerberg writes, “Led by one of the nation’s top quarterbacks in Carson Beck, the Bulldogs left spring practices, looking the part of the best team in the Bowl Subdivision and the current favorite to win a third national championship in four years.”

On top of Texas, Georgia faces two more top 10 teams on their schedule according to the rankings, those being Alabama at No. 7 and Clemson at No. 9. Ole Miss and Tennessee also made the top 25 of the rankings.

Georgia was also recently ranked atop the ESPN SP+ rankings, with Ohio State also following right behind. Georgia faces a daunting schedule in 2024, but should have more room for error in the expanded College Football Playoff era.

Two Georgia coaches named as potential head coaching targets

Georgia football could have more coaching staff turnover after the 2024 season

After an offseason in which Georgia had to replace multiple staff members, it would appear as if more can be expected after the 2024 season. CBS Sports’ David Cobb ranked seven coordinators who could become head coaches next cycle, including both Georgia defensive coordinators in Glenn Schumann and Travaris Robinson.

Schumann was the first hire Smart made to his staff following leaving from Alabama, serving as inside linebackers coach for his first three years before being promoted to co-defensive coordinator in 2019. He took over the main title after the departure of Dan Lanning to Oregon in 2022. Schumann has been targeted for multiple jobs already, including being the favorite for the Eagles’ defensive coordinator job last offseason, but ultimately opting to stay with the Bulldogs.

Robinson is a newer addition to the Georgia staff but is not short on reputation or experience. Robinson spent two years as cornerbacks coach at Alabama before Smart hired him away as co-defensive coordinator this offseason. He is highly thought of as one of the best recruiters in the conference. Prior to working at Alabama, Robinson also spent time as defensive backs coach at Miami and the defensive coordinator at South Carolina under Will Muschamp.

Kirby Smart already has an extensive coaching tree. Mel Tucker, Dan Lanning, Shane Beamer, Sam Pittman, Fran Brown and Dell McGee have all accepted head coaching jobs after working as assistants under Kirby Smart.

Mykel Williams poised to have breakout season for Georgia

Georgia Bulldogs edge rusher Mykel Williams is ready to live up to his lofty expectations

Coming off of a year in which he struggled to meet the expectations of the UGA fanbase, Georgia Bulldogs edge rusher Mykel Williams may be ready to live up to them this year. A frequent entry in preseason all-conference teams and early NFL draft projections, Williams is expected to be the leader of this Bulldogs front seven and the next in line of first-round Georgia defenders.

After moving around along the defensive line a season ago, Williams is expected to fully spend his time at the edge rusher role, helping Georgia with their lack of depth at that position following multiple departures from the program this season, including that of Marvin Jones Jr. to Florida State. Senior Chaz Chamblis and freshman Joseph Jonah-Ajonye are the main contenders to provide depth within that room this upcoming season.

At 6-foot-5, 265 pounds, Williams has an ideal frame for a pass rusher. He has compiled 4.5 sacks in both of his first two seasons but saw much more playing time a year ago. He addressed this, as he told DawgNation’s Connor Riley, “For me honestly, it was below the standard. But I have an offseason this upcoming year and I’m ready to get some work in.”

Kirby Smart has produced a long line of first round edge rushers, and if this position change and his offseason pass rush work pays off, Williams will be in line to end up near the top of that group.

Four-star defensive lineman includes Georgia in his top schools

Georgia football has made the cut for a four-star defensive line recruit

The Georgia Bulldogs have made the cut for yet another defensive line recruiting target. Myron Charles, a four-star defensive lineman in the class of 2025, included the Bulldogs in his finalists along with Florida State, Miami, Florida, Ohio State, and Texas.

Charles is listed at 6-foot-4, 295 pounds. He plays for Port Charlotte High School in Florida, who made the regional semifinals of the playoffs this past season. Charles has compiled 16.5 tackles-for-loss, 5.5 sacks, three forced fumbles, and three pass breakups over the past two seasons along the interior of the defensive line.

Charles is currently seen as a heavy favorite to go to Florida State, though no commitment date has been announced yet. He first received his offer from UGA and Tray Scott in January, and has yet to visit Athens.

Georgia currently has two commits along the defensive line for the class of 2025, those being four-star Darren Ikinnagbon out of New Jersey and three-star Stephon Shivers out of Tennessee.

Details emerge on Brock Bowers’ massive rookie contract with Raiders

Former Georgia TE Brock Bowers’ rookie deal with Las Vegas worth over $18 million…

Former Georgia tight end Brock Bowers is a Las Vegas Raider, and he’ll be paid handsomely in his rookie contract.

The No. 13 pick in the 2024 NFL draft will make upward of $18.1 million, fully guaranteed, over four years with a $10 million signing bonus. A much-deserved payday for one of the greatest Georgia players of all-time and the best tight end in college football history. Georgia rookies are projected to sign a combined $73.5 million in contracts.

Bowers is the only player to twice earn the Mackey Award, which is given to the nation’s top player at the position. He is also one of three Bulldogs to earn consensus All-American honors three times (Herschel Walker, David Pollack).

In 40 games over three seasons, Bowers racked up 175 receptions for 2,538 yards and 26 touchdowns. He also added 193 yards rushing and five scores on the ground.

Bowers provides the Raiders with versatility. He can line up at almost any skill position and win reps. It’s only a matter of time before he makes his mark as a pro.

Former Georgia defensive back announces transfer destination

After entering the transfer portal, a former Georgia safety has committed to Rich Rodriguez at Jacksonville State.

After entering the transfer portal at the beginning of the month, a former Georgia Bulldogs safety has joined a new team. Patrick Taylor announced via his X account that he has joined the Jacksonville State Gamecocks.

Taylor joined the Bulldogs as a preferred walk-on in 2020. He is listed at 5-foot-11, 170 pounds, and has experience playing at both safety and cornerback. He played high school football at Johns Creek in Alpharetta, Georgia, where he was an all-region and all-state cornerback. Taylor saw the field in three games in 2023 for UGA, getting three tackles in the process.

Taylor also had offers from Troy and Austin Peay. In joining the Gamecocks, he joins a team entering its second year in the Football Bowl Subdivision and coming off a nine-win season in 2023. The head coach is Rich Rodriguez, a long-time Power Five level coach at Michigan, West Virginia and Arizona.

 

Taylor has two years of eligibility remaining.