Georgia Bulldogs
· 2026-07-03
The Georgia Bulldogs are investing $33 million in football, as they adapt to college football's new NIL reality.
The Bulldogs are committing to competitive NIL opportunities to attract elite recruits, with Kirby Smart acknowledging the need to pay for top talent.
Georgia has an offensive lineman, a freshman this year, who's likely to start as a true freshman, and such players are expensive.
The coaching staff has brought in just nine transfers, choosing to rely on young players, and Zykie Helton has impressed enough to be in line for a starting job on the offensive line.
Andy Staples, from On3, shared that Kirby Smart initially thought NIL numbers were exaggerated, but now realizes they're not.
The Georgia Bulldogs will face Tennessee State Tigers on 2026-09-05, and with their young players, they're looking to make an impact in the upcoming season.
The talent hasn't disappeared in Athens, and neither has Kirby Smart's ability to identify it, with freshmen like Zykie Helton, Kaiden Prothro, and Tyriq Green showing promise.
The Bulldogs have trusted young linemen before, and that experience appears to have given the staff confidence to do it again.
A source told CBS Sports that Zykie Helton is a "real deal" whom Dawg Nation will be familiar with by midseason, with a chance to become a long-term starter.
The Georgia Bulldogs are putting plenty of faith in their young players, and with their investment in football, they're looking to stay competitive in the NCAA.