Kirby Smart lists Georgia players that want to 'eat off the floor'

‘Eating off the floor’ is a saying that has been coined by Georgia head coach Kirby Smart and his players throughout his tenure in Athens. A rugged mentality defined by toughness and a willingness to do whatever it takes to win through a high level of effort.

Smart recently sat down with Rece Davis and Pete Thamel ahead of the 2023 season as the Bulldogs look to win their third straight national championship, and Davis asked Smart a simple question, who have been some guys who’ve wanted to eat off the floor?

“Yeah we’ve got several guys to me that have had good camps, but they’re not household names,” Smart said. “We’ve got a kid that’s probably going to be one of our returners and slot receivers in Mekhi Mews who was great in the spring game. He made some plays in the spring game but man he’s had a really good camp and he wants to eat off the floor every day. I mean he’s 5-foot-8, 185 pounds and he’s blocking and playing bigger than he is. He’s had a great camp.”

Mews didn’t receive much playing time in his first two seasons with the Bulldogs, recording just two catches for nine yards in his career along with three returns in the kicking game for 37 yards. But the former unranked, under-recruited prospect could break out this season for Georgia based on the toughness he’s shown during fall camp.

“Jackson Meeks is another guy who’s had a good camp. We’ve got some defensive guys, I think Javon Bullard has had a good camp and really competitive,” Smart added.

Meeks is another under-the-radar player for the Bulldogs poised for a breakout season, recording just nine catches in his two seasons in Athens and making an impact on special teams, previously tabbed as a ‘special teams demon’ by Smart.

Bullard on the other hand is more of a known commodity on Georgia’s team following his breakout sophomore season where he started 10 games in the Bulldogs’ secondary. He notably recorded two interceptions in the team’s national championship game versus TCU, and was named an AP Preseason All-America Second Team selection this offseason.

But whether they’re household names or not, Smart made it clear he wants as many of his players eating off the floor as possible as the Bulldogs look the maintain their dominance for a third straight season.

“But I hope they all want to eat off the floor Rece or we’re in trouble,” Smart said. “We had somebody speak to the team, they said there’s two times you eat off the floor. Either the floor is really clean or you’re hungry as hell, and we’re hoping that we’re hungry as hell.”