Georgia's All-Kirby Smart Era Team: Tight End

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.

Yesterday was dedicated to the wide receivers. Today, we’re talking tight ends.

Brock Bowers (2021-present)

This one is without a doubt the easiest selection I’ll have to make for the All-Kirby Smart Era Team. There probably isn’t a better player at any position than Brock Bowers.

Bowers has led Georgia in receiving each of the last two years. He’s got as good of a chance as anyone to do it again in 2023, and in the process could be the program’s first 1,000 yard receiver.

As a freshman in 2021, Bowers stepped in and contributed immediately. In just his second game, the Napa, Calif. native went for 107 yards and two touchdowns. Just two weeks later, he had three scores in a win over Vanderbilt.

Bowers once again went for over 100 yards and two touchdowns in a win against ranked Kentucky. Then, he had a pair of scores in back to back games to close out the regular season. For his efforts, Bowers was named SEC Freshman of the Year by both the coaches and media.

After a strong postseason that saw Bowers add three more scores, 19 catches and over 200 yards in three games – giving him touchdowns in five straight contests – the freshman was included on numerous All-American teams and took home the national Freshman of the Year Award from both the Football Writers Association of America and the Maxwell Football Club. His 13 receiving touchdowns set a single-season UGA record regardless of position while his 56 catches and 882 yards established records for Bulldogs tight ends. Hint: they didn’t last long.

Previously: Quarterbacks

Bowers returned to have a strong sophomore season too. Named a First-Team All-American and up for awards given to both linemen and receivers, Bowers was the ultimate tight end, and it showed as he took home the John Mackey Award.

Bowers hauled in 63 catches for 942 yards, breaking both of his tight end records from the year before. His seven touchdowns was a team-high, and he also added 109 yards and three more scores on the ground.

Outstanding individual efforts for Bowers in 2022 included five catches, 121 yards and two touchdowns at South Carolina. He also had his first rushing touchdown the season that day. Then, he came back with two more touchdowns on the ground the next week against Kent State.

Bowers set a new career high for receiving yards in Georgia’s rivalry win over Florida, catching five passes for 154 yards. That included a highlight reel 73-yarder for a touchdown. With scores in four of the final six games including one in the National Championship as a part of his seven-catch, 152-yard performance, he once again made his case for the top player in the Kirby Smart era.

Previously: Running Backs

Bowers is once again expected to be one of the top players in the country in 2023. He’s been included on All-American teams for the likes of Phil Steele and Athlon Sports, all while earning first-round projections in the 2024 NFL Draft.

Second Team: Isaac Nauta (2016-2018)