Kirby Smart spotlights players who are stepping into leadership role

Georgia lost a lot off last year’s title team. Several top draft picks — including the very top one — along with playmakers on offense, stars up and down the defense, and most of their veteran leaders as well. In that final department, leadership, Kirby Smart is confident in several guys in the program stepping up this coming season.

At a recent press conference, he spoke on that very topic. One reporter asked who was coming along as team leaders. To which Kirby Smart responded by naming a number of Bulldog players who’ve showcased leadership qualities in camp this season.

Here was his answer:

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Kirby Smart on leadership

“Yeah, Jalen Carter’s done a great job. Trezmen Marshall has. Kelee Ringo has. Kamari Lassiter has. Several guys that have stepped up and really taken on some of that responsibility. And even Robert Beal. He’s not a guy of many words, but he’s certainly been around here a long time. Will Poole is a guy we got. We got some guys that know how to do it. They’ve seen it done right. They haven’t been the feature player, but they understand how to lead and they’ve seen it done the right way.”

So that’s a handful of players who already are stepping up as leaders for the Dawgs. Next, Smart was asked what exactly goes into great leadership. In response, he gave an excellent explanation of how leadership is all about connection.

“Well, we talk a long time about connection, connection connection. Connection’s one of our four DNA traits and we always talk about connection is seen or heard through language and touch. So, if you want to visually see connection, you got to touch somebody. You gotta high-five somebody, celebrate with somebody. You got to be connected. And you see that through what you say. I don’t think you can be real connected if you don’t have great energy and focus.

“So, if you have good energy and you have focus to what you’re working on, that usually creates good connection. I thought we had more moments later in the scrimmage. Like last week, it just flattened out. This week, it got better as the scrimmage went in terms of energy, which at least lets me know I think they’re in better shape.”

The 2022 Georgia team is becoming more connected as camp progresses. A key to success, according to Kirby Smart.