NIL money’s flipped college football upside down. Players chase cash, not coaching, turning the transfer portal into a Wall Street frenzy. Sure, early money’s tempting, but what about team loyalty and stability? That’s taking a beating. Yet programs are throwing around bags of cash, but Kirby Smart’s digging in his heels, refusing to let Georgia become a NIL bidding war battleground. What’s stopping him from diving headfirst into the NIL cash pool?

In the ever-shifting landscape of NIL, Kirby Smart remains a steadfast traditionalist. He still believes passion and fire should drive players, not just dollar signs. “I want to see the fire. I want to see the passion, the energy,” he insists. But in a world where Bryce Underwood trades LSU for Michigan’s $10.5 million and Carson Beck jumps ship to Miami for a $4 million payday, is that even realistic?

Dawg Post’s Ryan Kerley sheds light on Smart’s vision: “Money is changing a lot of things in college football, but Kirby Smart doesn’t want to change the core.” That core? “Kirby wants to develop players out of high school. He doesn’t want to have to hit the transfer portal that much. He did. Was that correct? Zachariah Branch, Noah Thomas, but he referenced last week, part of the big reason why they went out and got them is because of their character. He wants people that love football, not money.” 

Smart wants loyalty, pure and simple, not just dollar signs flashing in players’ eyes. And let’s be real, that kind of loyalty’s tough to find these days. But, don’t get it twisted; they’re not sitting on their hands. Smart’s dipped into the transfer portal, snagging Noah Thomas, that standout WR from Texas A&M with one year left, and Zachariah Branch, the USC receiver/kick returner. And here’s the thing: according to insider Ryan Kerley, it’s about character, not just throwing a mountain of NIL cash at them. You can tell Smart wants guys with that fire, that passion. Kerley makes it crystal clear, “Starting with a linebacker, CJ Allen said last week, I just keep the main thing the main thing. When I was seven years old, I didn’t get paid to play football.” That’s the mentality he’s after.

And it’s not like Georgia’s recruiting is suffering. They’re ranked second nationally and in the SEC, with 28 commits and only six transfers this season. As Kerley notes, “This is On3’s NIL evaluation list. They rank it from one to 100. You got guys like Arch Manning on it, guys like Carson Beck on it, making millions of dollars. I couldn’t find a single Georgia football player in the top 100, so maybe Georgia is doing it a little bit differently.”

Georgia’s championship pedigree and Smart’s track record speak volumes, overshadowing the allure of pure NIL deals. Smart wants the kind of player who reacts with unbridled excitement after a big play, not just a player counting their cash. “He wants people to have these types of reactions after plays,” Kerley stated, pointing at a charged-up Smart.

While Georgia might not be splashing the cash on individual NIL deals, they’re ensuring the money stays within the program. A proposed bill would allow Georgia athletes to keep more of their NIL earnings, instead of losing 5.49% to the state. Imagine a quarterback keeping an extra $55,000 on a $1 million deal, or a team saving $1 million on $20 million in earnings. That’s a powerful recruiting tool: ‘Why choose elsewhere when the program allows you to retain more of your earnings?’

Despite their NIL strategy, Georgia faces a crucial challenge. With Carson Beck’s departure, they’re entering the season with a new quarterback at the helm. Is there a new “fire”?

Kirby Smart’s stance on the QB position

Georgia’s spring practice is heating up, and the quarterback battle is taking shape. Gunner Stockton, with his experience, is currently leading the pack, while Ryan Puglisi, the promising newcomer, is still finding his footing. Kirby Smart has been direct with the 19YO Puglisi, emphasizing the need for increased effort. “He does have a long way to go as far as learning exactly what we’re asking him to do,” Smart said. “The command of the offense. The volume of the offense. He’s getting better at all those things.”

Now, Smart definitely sees something in Puglisi. “He’s a competitor,” Smart says. “He never flinched during the recruiting process. Those have been some of the best guys that we’ve recruited. The guys that didn’t care who came in with him. He had a passion and energy about Georgia and I’ve seen his growth and development since he’s been here. He’s a really good baseball player. He’s got arm talent and size. Great high school tape. He really flashed on the scout team and he’s made some really good throw on the run.” So, yeah, Smart likes what he sees. But let’s be real, even with all that potential, this is Stockton’s gig to lose. He’s already got the locker room on his side, and the staff trusts him. He’s proven his mettle, leading Georgia to an SEC title comeback and fighting hard against Notre Dame in the playoffs.

However, Kirby Smart is quick to point out that Gunner Stockton is not a carbon copy of Carson Beck. “Gunner is very different from Carson,” he said. “He’s different from Stetson and Jake (Fromm) and JT (Daniels). He’s his own person. He’s got a quiet confidence about him. That’s the way Nick Chubb was… He listens all the time. He’s taking notes, he’s wise, and he’s a great kid.” His dedication and resilience are undeniable, qualities that align perfectly with Smart’s expectations.

More than just experience, Stockton has earned the respect of his teammates. As Kirby Smart highlights, “He’s got a tremendous amount of confidence in his ability. He’s got a lot of knowledge of our system, and I think that kind of resonates with the other players,” Smart said. “They rally around Gunner because they have a lot of respect for him.” His quiet confidence and steady leadership have already won over his teammates.

It appears Stockton is the clear favorite for the starting role. However, if Puglisi manages to close the gap, Georgia’s quarterback room could be the source of significant drama this season. Smart’s banking on guys like Stockton and team spirit over NIL, but can that really hold when the QB spot’s up for grabs? Especially after losing Beck.