Nakobe Dean on why players want to play for Kirby Smart

Under Kirby Smart’s leadership, the Georgia Bulldogs have become a perennial contender for the College Football Playoff and maintain a top spot in the recruiting rankings each year. The former Nick Saban assistant has proven to be the perfect fit and continues to build a culture based on his relationship with the players.

Ahead of the national championship game, former five-star linebacker and projected first round draft pick Nakobe Dean discussed why the players want to play for Kirby Smart each day.

“He can get you going, if you ask me,” said Dean. “At this point, a lot of guys, if you just kind of see them and you weren’t around him all the time in practice, you would think when he’s coaching, he get all riled up, you’ll think he’s kind of, like, tripping a little bit.”

“But he comes from, I feel like, every time, I don’t feel like he’s bad at all. I feel like he comes from a great place. He wants you to be great and he want to be great.”

While Nakobe Dean acknowledged the bit of spark Kirby Smart brings, he also respects the mindset he brings to every task. It all builds to one goal.

“The only thing he care about is winning, and I feel like that’s the same for me,” said Dean. “The only thing he cares about is winning the game. So whatever we’ve got to do win this game, Coach, I’m going to do it for you.”

“That’s been my mindset, just trusting the coaches, trusting the game plan. And just going out there and playing like we know how we can play and just be elite.”

Kirby Smart shares key to rematch

Heading into the second meeting of the season between the Bulldogs and Alabama in the College Football Playoff national championship, Kirby Smart was also asked how he and his team are approaching the big rematch with the Crimson Tide.

“When you’re playing a rematch game, I think a lot can go into it in terms of you’ve got to be careful because you’ve got things and games in your breakdown that might change this game in terms of we didn’t have the SEC championship game, obviously, in our breakdown, then the playoff game,” Smart said. “And what tendencies changed, what matchups we’re looking for, who is in, who is out.

“There’s a lot of things that go into it. But at the end of the day, you’re really not as worried about what they’re doing; you’re worried about what you’re doing – and how well you can do that is the most important part.”