Georgia head coach Kirby Smart has never been one to panic publicly, even when recruiting headlines dominate the college football landscape. That composure was on full display as he addressed the recent flip of elite quarterback prospect Jared Curtis, offering his first public comments since the news broke. While Smart acknowledged the significance of losing a high-profile commitment, he made it clear the Bulldogs are neither caught off-guard nor scrambling, subtly hinting that Georgia already has “plans in place” to address the future of the quarterback position.
Curtis, a five-star prospect widely regarded as one of the most polished passers in his class, had long been viewed as Georgia’s quarterback of the future. His decommitment sparked immediate reaction across the college football world, with rival fanbases celebrating and Georgia supporters anxiously wondering about the program’s next move. Yet Smart’s tone was steady. Rather than dwell on what was lost, he emphasized the realities of modern recruiting — and the confidence he has in his staff’s ability to adapt.
“We recruit year-round, and nothing happens in a vacuum,” Smart said, underscoring that major recruiting shifts rarely catch Georgia by surprise. “You always have contingency plans. You always evaluate. We feel good about where we are at quarterback and where we’re headed.”
Those words, particularly the reference to having “plans in place,” immediately caught attention. Georgia has been linked to several elite quarterback prospects in upcoming classes, both high school recruits and potential portal options. Smart didn’t mention names, but history alone shows why fans remain calm: Georgia has consistently found ways to secure top-tier talent, whether through flipping a prospect late or landing an unexpected transfer.
Smart also took the opportunity to reinforce Georgia’s developmental pedigree. He highlighted the work of offensive coordinator Mike Bobo and the strength of a system that has produced winning quarterbacks regardless of star-ratings coming out of high school.
“We’ve had guys who weren’t five-star recruits win national championships here,” Smart said. “We’ve had walk-ons come in and do special things. Our process doesn’t change based on one recruitment.”
That comment was an obvious nod to former walk-on Stetson Bennett, whose rise to back-to-back national titles remains one of the most remarkable stories in college football. Smart’s message was clear: Georgia’s quarterback room is defined by competition and development, not chaos when a single domino falls.
Still, the staff isn’t complacent. Smart acknowledged that recruiting misses — no matter how infrequent — sharpen the program’s urgency to find the right fit. That urgency, he hinted, drives the Bulldogs to stay aggressively involved with top prospects across the country.
The head coach also noted that in today’s NIL-era landscape, flips are simply part of the game. “Recruiting is fluid,” he said. “Kids have more information, more opportunities, and more pressure than ever before. Our job is to build relationships that last and to bring in players who truly want to be here.”
Ultimately, Smart’s response served two purposes: calm the fanbase and signal strength to the rest of the recruiting world. Losing Curtis hurts — no doubt — but Smart made it clear that Georgia is operating from a position of stability, not desperation. And if past patterns hold, the Bulldogs’ “plans in place” could soon reveal another major move at the sport’s most important position.
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