Georgia walk-on program 'very personal' for Kirby Smart
In the current climate of college football, glitz and glamour reign supreme, with heaps of cash, starring roles in marketing campaigns, and autograph signings all the rage among top players. There’s a world, however, that’s quite different from it and yet sharing the same Georgia bench on Saturdays.
That’s the life of a walk-on.
While the experience may be a stark contrast to the life of the five-star recruit in many regards, Kirby Smart and his staff have sought to level the playing field as best as possible for those who would choose to be a Bulldog sans scholarship.
“I hold walk-ons in the highest regard. As we recruit them, we explain to them that they will not be treated any differently. They’ll be treated just the same and afforded the same opportunities,” Smart said on Monday. “I think if you asked the walk-ons (what’s different) – we had a kid stand up in one of our connection meetings and I thought he did a tremendous job, we said to him, ‘Explain to everybody what it’s like to be a walk on.’ He might tell you that’s different, that you don’t get the first shot, you have to really truly earn it and go out there and work, be a part of the scout team, and outwork people. We’ve had some guys do that.”
Former Bulldogs, such as Rodrigo Blankenship and Stetson Bennett, likely come to mind first for many as those who’ve broken through from the ranks of walk-on, but Smart was quick to point to another name to drive home the point.
“We show Prather Hudson examples all the time. The first year I was here he was busting long runs repeatedly on our defense, and he earned his way to a scholarship. Really good player. We have opportunities for that,” he said.
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Georgia not short on impressive walk-ons in 2023
New faces are leading the charge for Georgia standouts who started without scholarships in 2023, as well, with wide receiver Mekhi Mews and running back Cash Jones, as well as safety Dan Jackson, already an established figure.
“Dan and Mews have been tremendous. There’s another 20 walk-ons that go out and practice so hard every day that you don’t get to see because they maybe don’t have quite the ability or they’re not quite as high on the depth chart,” Smart said. “So, I really respect all those guys, and it’s a credit to Mews who came in here and wanted an opportunity to compete, earned it. We saw him in high school and he was high on our preferred walk-on list. He earned it. He came out and really competed and did a great job. I think everybody on the team would tell you he has earned what he has gotten by the way he practices.”
An inclusive attitude by the entirety of the Georgia program provides those chances for those who come into Athens in a less-heralded manner than most.
“When it comes to team meetings, you sit by your class. (There’s no) hierarchy in the locker room; it’s not like there’s a room over here for walk-ins. I hold walk-ons in a high regard, and it’s very personal to me that they get treated like everyone else,” Smart said. “Now, I can’t say that every one of them would say that, but I certainly try to do that.”
