What’s Happening With Kirby Smart, the Team, and the Program

Since Georgia’s CFP quarterfinal loss to Ole Miss in the Sugar Bowl, the Bulldogs have moved into a classic Kirby Smart offseason reset: staff reshuffling, roster reloading, spring practice planning, and recruiting evaluation. The headline is simple: Georgia is not in panic mode — it’s in retool mode.

Coach and staff news: Kirby Smart is reshaping the football operation

Georgia has made multiple offseason staff moves under Kirby Smart. The biggest recent on-field addition is Larry Knight, who was hired as the new outside linebackers coach. UGA’s official release highlights Knight’s recruiting reputation and pass-rush production at previous stops, including Arkansas State.

Georgia also added five analysts (three offense, two defense), including former Bulldog great Robert Edwards as an offensive analyst. The program also added Maurice “Mo” Smith and Gordon Redfield-Gale on defense, signaling continued investment in behind-the-scenes coaching infrastructure.

DawgNation also reports Georgia made two major coaching changes this offseason, including Phil Rauscher stepping in as offensive line coach, with Stacy Searels remaining with the program as an analyst.

Team outlook: Georgia is replacing stars, but the core is still strong

The roster storyline is a familiar one in Athens: reload, don’t rebuild. DawgNation notes Georgia returns key contributors such as QB Gunner Stockton, RB Nate Frazier, and S KJ Bolden. At the same time, the Bulldogs must replace important departures, including CJ Allen, Christen Miller, Monroe Freeling, and Zachariah Branch as they move on to the NFL Draft.

247Sports reports Georgia returns substantial experience for 2026, including a large number of returning starters, which supports the idea that the Bulldogs remain a top-tier contender despite offseason turnover.

On the transfer side, Georgia brought in nine portal additions, with Georgia Tech WR Isiah Canion and Auburn DE Amaris Williams among the most-discussed names. DawgNation notes those transfers will participate in spring practice.

Kirby Smart’s portal philosophy also remains clear: a needs-based, quick-impact approach. Smart described a “use them or lose them” mindset, reflecting the current portal/NIL reality and Georgia’s emphasis on getting transfer additions on the field quickly.

Spring football and calendar: next big checkpoint is G-Day

Georgia’s next major phase is spring ball. DawgNation reports the Bulldogs are set to begin spring practice on March 17, 2026, with G-Day on April 18, 2026 after 15 spring practices. It also notes Pro Day is set for March 18.

That spring window is especially important this year because it will shape:

• how Georgia replaces NFL departures,

• how quickly transfers fit in,

• and what the 2026 depth chart looks like around Stockton.

Recruiting and roster-building: still elite, but with some pressure points

Georgia’s 2026 recruiting class remains strong nationally, but it finished No. 6 in the 247Sports Composite, which AJC notes is tied for the lowest-ranked class of the Kirby Smart era (matching 2016). AJC also notes the class is still deep in blue-chip talent and heavily built around in-state recruiting.

That matters because Georgia is balancing three roster-building lanes at once:

1. high school recruiting

2. transfer portal patching

3. retention/development in the NIL era

General program news and concerns

Not all offseason news has been about football development. DawgNation’s recent feed notes that linebackers Chris Cole and Darren Ikinnagbon released statements after arrests on reckless driving charges, which is another off-field issue the program is having to manage during the offseason.

Bottom line

Since the Sugar Bowl loss, Georgia football has looked like a program doing what elite programs do after a playoff exit: adjusting staff, managing attrition, integrating transfers, and setting up spring to define the next team. Kirby Smart’s operation still has top-end talent and veteran pieces, but the next few months (spring practice + portal/depth-chart development) will determine whether the 2026 Dawgs look like a true title threat again.

If you want, I can also do a position-by-position 2026 preview (QB/RB/WR/OL/DL/LB/DB) based on who’s back and who Georgia added.