Georgia's All-Kirby Smart Era Team: Outside Linebacker
We’re entering year eight of the Kirby Smart era in Athens. The Georgia football coach has more than established himself as one of the best, if not THE best, in College Football by turning around a program that had gone stagnant and is now at the top of the sport with the Bulldogs having won back-to-back titles.
Seven full seasons at the helm means a lot of things. Smart’s first full class has come and gone. While the “COVID-year” delayed it a bit, that happened this past season with the departure of Robert Beal – and of course walk-on Stetson Bennett. So, it’s time that we start discussing the All-Smart Era Team.
Our rules are simple. They only require the player to have spent one season playing for Smart so seniors on the 2016 team are eligible. Other than that, they must have finished their career at Georgia or be suiting up for the Bulldogs this fall.
Last week we covered the entirety of the offense. Those stories are linked for you below. This week, it’s time for defense, and we continue today with the outside linebackers.
Nolan Smith (2019-2022)
Admittedly, this one was an incredibly tough decision. Nolan Smith had a bigger impact on the program and it came over the course of several seasons while Azeez Ojulari starred for season or two in 2019 and 2020. A decision has been made, and I’m going with Smith on the All-Kirby Smart Era Team.
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A five-star and the nation’s No. 1 overall player coming out of high school, Smith committed to Smart and established a precedent for staying in state. Born and raised in Savannah, Smith came to Athens and saw the field right away. He shared the position group with Jeremaine Johnson, Adam Anderson and Ojulari, totaling 18 tackles including 2.5 sacks.
That core four manned the outside linebacker room again in 2020. Smith once again had 2.5 sacks while Ojulari led the way with 9.5, the most in a single season for a player under Kirby Smart. However, in 2021 when Smith took on a bigger role, he did so incredibly well. On a defense that led the country in almost every statistical category, Smith finished fifth in tackles with 56 stops including 9.0 for loss and 3.5 sacks. Smith also forced three fumbles, batted down two passes and both recovered a fumble and picked off a pass on the way to helping Georgia to the program’s first National Championship in 41 years.
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Smith returned for his senior season in 2022 and got off to a great start. In the first eight games, he had 7.0 tackles for loss including 3.0 sacks. However, against Florida, Smith suffered a torn pectoral muscle that ended his season. Still, Smith served an important role. He was a leader and a permanent team captain. After recovering from the injury, Smith put on a show at the NFL Combine and ended up being taken in the first round by the Philadelphia Eagles.
Second Team: Azeez Ojulari (2018-2020)
