Kirby Smart opens up on the impact of Nolan Smith's injury

Losing Nolan Smith for the season is a big blow for the Georgia defense on the field and could be just as big a loss off the field. But Smith, according to head coach Kirby Smart, has been engaged, intense and every bit the teammate and leader he was pre-injury.

While the Bulldogs are losing a tone-setting defensive player, Smart seems confident that all of the things Smith brings off the field will remain pillars of the 2022 Georgia team.

“Yeah, he’s a great leader. Unquestioned toughness. Just got great toughness. The guy has been durable. He’s been here his whole career. He hits things so hard, he closes on counters. He creates an attitude of toughness that kind of embodies our defense. He’s been a very vocal leader this year and really, to be honest, the last two days, he’s out there running to the ball, flying to the ball, coaching the guys, doing everything. And an incredible impact just on the energy of practice. So, very appreciative of all he’s done and just, unfortunate. It’s part of football. But it’s a very common injury and surgery — and Roquan [Smith] had one while he was here, Roquan had one in the NFL — and he’ll make it back from it and he’ll be fine.”

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Smith is expected to have surgery on Thursday for his pectoral injury and Smart said he expects the senior to be back with the team rather quickly. If not for practice that day, then surely for the massive showdown with top-ranked Tennessee on Saturday.

“I think it’s outpatient. I think he’ll be there,” Smart said. “I’m hoping to having him at practice Thursday, if they’ll let him. And get him back out there. He does a great job, he’s like an extra coach because he’s so enthusiastic and so getting after it and he brings energy. Hoping he’ll be out there Thursday.”

Perhaps most impressive is that even while being sidelined for the foreseeable future, Smith wanted to find a way to help the Bulldogs along.

“There’s nothing he can really do right now, so he’s got great energy,” Smart said. “I talked to him and asked him to help lift spirits and push and that’s been his role when he’s practicing, so I don’t want to change it now that he’s not. He’s out there flying around and helping us out, so it’s great to have him take that on. Not all kids do that. Sometimes it, you get dejected or down in the dumps, but he has not been that way.”