HOOVER, Ala. -- Like it or not, the spotlight is now firmly centered on Kirby Smart and his Georgia Bulldogs. The hype train is returning to Sanford Stadium, placing the Bulldogs back on the national map less than two years after long-time coach Mark Richt was fired.
Smart will be entering only his second year as head coach (at any level), but who cares? Georgia returns 10 defensive starters and a possible superstar quarterback -- who is only a sophomore. Georgia is also months removed from signing the nation's No. 3 recruiting class, which featured 18 ESPN 300 members and four five-star prospects.