Kirby Smart names Georgia players who can improve their NFL Draft stock most at Pro Day

Kirby Smart believes NFL franchises need to take a longer look at Georgia’s Kearis Jackson ahead of the 2023 NFL Draft.

The former Bulldogs wide receiver has been dealing with a wrist injury, and Smart stated at the 2023 Georgia Pro Day that Jackson may be the guy being overlooked by many teams.

CLICK HERE to WIN March Madness Prizes in On3’s Bracket Challenge

“That’s a tough one, the first guy that kind of pops into my head is Kearis [Jackson], because of all the things he’s done here,” stated Smart, asked about which Bulldogs player can improve their draft stock the most. “He’s a skilled returner, he’s played inside, outside receiver, he’s a great leader. He’s done such a tremendous job, but he hasn’t really been able to work out.

“He had a wrist surgery that he injured in the last game of the year, so it was a tough injury for him to have, but I think he’s going to showcase in somebody’s camp, and hopefully get drafted where he can go in and really compete.”

After four seasons at Georgia, Jackson is taking his talents to the NFL. He’s coming off a year where he caught 21 passes for 320 yards, but added some impressive return yardage, as Smart mentioned.

Perhaps Kearis Jackson is one of those players who will be better suited for an NFL offense. Kirby Smart is certainly a believer in the former Bulldogs wide receiver.

Kirby Smart shuts down concerns about Georgia program culture

During the football season, Georgia reached the top of the mountain, not losing a single game and achieving their second straight national championship. But during the offseason, adverse off-the-field situations tied to the Bulldogs have dominated the headlines. Head coach Kirby Smart was recently asked if he feels like he has exercised proper control and oversight for the program. 

“Absolutely, we’ve got complete control of our program and our kinds in our program,” Smart said. “Do kids make mistakes? Yes. Young student-athletes make mistakes, they do.”

A few weeks after their national championship win, starting quarterback Stetson Bennettwas arrested for public intoxication in Dallas, Texas where he was training for the NFL Combine. Then the day of the combine, an arrest warrant was issued to Bulldogs’ star defensive lineman Jalen Carter by the Athens Police Department for reckless driving and racing charges that are tied to the fatal crash in January that killed his former Bulldogs teammate Devin Willock and recruiting staff Chandler LeCroy.

The events of the offseason have cast a dark cloud over the Bulldogs’ program, but Smart is still confident in the culture he has built in Athens.

“It happens all across the country, it happens here. There’s no lack of control for our program, I think our kids across the board will tell you that we have an incredible culture here, we have a connective tissue that brings out team together,” Smart said.

Carter became the ninth Georgia player in the last 14 months to be arrested includingKenny McIntosh, Nolan Smith, and Javon Bullard all facing legal trouble involving reckless driving, speeding, and a DUI for Bullard.

“Our guys do make mistakes, that’s historically probably gonna happen when you’re 18 to 22 year olds, our job as coaches is to prevent that from happening,” Smart explained. “And that starts with me and you do it by educating your players and how you discipline your players and we’ll continue to do that at a high standard.”

On3’s Kaiden Smith contributed to this article.