Kirby Smart Details the Importance of Walk-Ons Within the Georgia Program
One of the more underrated aspects of Georgia's climb to the top of the college football landscape has been the development and success of the program's walk-ons. Stetson Bennett eventually returned to Georgia as a scholarship player following a brief JUCO interlude, but the eventual Heisman Trophy finalist famously began his Bulldog career as one of the program's preferred walk-ons. Yet, while Bennett is the most famous of the walk-on success stories under Kirby Smart, he is far from the only one. Rodrigo Blankenship, Prather Hudson, and Dan Jackson all began their careers at Georgia as walk-ons before earning scholarships based on their play and contribution to the team. That tradition looks poised to continue as wide receiver Mekhi Mews and running back Cash Jones have positioned themselves to make on-field impacts for the Bulldogs this season.
The type of success that Georgia has enjoyed with its walk-on program does not occur by happenstance. According to Georgia Head Coach Kirby Smart, it is the result of an approach and commitment by the Georgia coaching staff to evaluating, recruiting, and developing walk-ons with a similar type of vigor they dedicate to scholarship players.
“I hold walk-ons in the highest regard, and as we recruit them we explain to them that they would not be treated any differently," Smart said. "They will be treated just the same and afforded the same opportunities...So when it comes to team meetings you sit by your class, not by your hierarchy in the locker room. I hold walk-ons in high regard. It's very personal to me that they get treated just like everyone else."
Safety Dan Jackson is one of several former walk-ons within the Georgia program to earn a scholarship under Kirby Smart.
Still, while Smart and the Georgia coaching staff hold the program's walk-ons in "high regard," the Bulldogs' head coach recognizes that walk-ons are always fighting an uphill battle and must prove themselves in a way that scholarship players do not always have to.
"I think if you asked the walk-ons that question, and we had a kid stand up in one of our connection meetings and I thought he did a tremendous job, explain to everybody what's it's like being on a walk-on. He might tell you that's different. You don't get the first shot. You have to really earn it. Truly earn it. You have to go out there and work and be part of the scout team and just outwork people. We've had some guys do that. We showed Prather Hudson examples all the time. First year I was here he was busting long runs repeatedly on our defense and he earned his way to a scholarship, and really good player. We have a lot of opportunities for that."
While a number of walk-ons have taken advantage of the opportunities to earn a scholarship at Georgia, Smart is not particularly keen on publicizing that information out of respect for the efforts and sacrifices of those walk-on players who are not able to earn a scholarship.
“I'm not big into the talking about the scholarships and doing that," Smart said. "We have multiple guys who have got them. Outside of the one time I think Notre Dame locker room we awarded Rod and learned a valuable lesson in that, that I don't think that's always worth the publicity that you get. I think sometimes you can do more damage than good with guys that may feel like they deserve one. We keep that internal, and if it gets out, it gets out. Dan and Mews have been tremendous. There is another 20 walk-ons that go out and practice so hard every day that you don't get to see because maybe they don't have quite the ability or not quite as far up the depth chart. So I really respect all these guys."
Georgia preferred walk-on WR Mekhi Mews (87) breaks away from the UT-Martin defense on a 54-yard touchdown in Georgia's season-opening victory over the Skyhawks on Saturday, Sep.2.
When discussing Georgia's current walk-ons, Smart specifically mentioned wide receiver Mekhi Mews who is beginning to put together a strong case to earn a scholarship of his own. The Grayson, Georgia native made a splash during Georgia's spring game in April and carried that momentum over into Georgia's season-opening win over UT-Martin in which he hauled in three passes for 75 yards and a touchdown, including a 54-yard screen pass he took the distance.
"It's a credit to Mews, who came in here and wanted an opportunity to compete, and he earned it. We saw him in high school and he was high on our preferred walk-on list and he earned it. He came out and really competed and did a great job. I think everybody on the team will tell you he's earned what he has gotten with the way he practices.”
Like any team, Georgia's roster composition will continue to skew heavily towards players who were offered a scholarship out of high school, but under Smart the Bulldogs will continue to value their walk-on program and provide those players with an opportunity to earn a role on Saturday's and potentially play their way into a scholarship.
