Published Jan 16, 2017
Could Nolan Smith be the next Georgia pied piper?
Paul Maharry  •  UGASports
Staff
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Class of 2019 standout defensive end Nolan Smith acts like a Georgia commit already. He was overheard on the sidelines at the True 19 all-star game discussing how he planned to recruit other top sophomore to Georgia. When he made a sack -- and he did so multiple times-- he would flash his Georgia gloves to the sideline.

So what is the story with this coveted pass rusher? Is Smith a silent commti or is he just high on the Bulldogs? We asked him.

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Q: How is your recruitment going?

A: "Georgia was the first school to offer me, first school to believe in me, believe in the process of me. Even though I'm small, I'm the weakest of the outside linebackers, but I'm still highly ranked, but people doubt me and say my ranking isn't real. I just tell them that people's stars don't me nothing, it's the dog that's in me. I want to play football, no matter my size.

Q: You say it's the 'dog' in you, is that a Georgia Bulldog in you? You were talking a lot of pro-Dawg stuff on the sidelines.

A: Yeah, it's the Georgia Bulldog in me and the fight. Just the ambition to play the game. I just love this game so much.

Q: How is your recruitment going in general?

A: It's really not going. I've just been to Georgia and they've showed love, I love going up there and I always feel like I'm home. It doesn't feel like a three hour drive.

Q: Have you already committed to Georgia, even silently?A: No habla English.

Q: IF you were committed to Georgia, who are some of the guys you would be recruiting?

A: Keiondre [Jones], Owen [Pappoe], Jashawn [Sheffield], I've got several names right now. I want to get some of the Texas boys, that's why this game was so important so we let them know that the Georgia boys are real. Mike [Robertson] standing right behind you. I want to get a lot of people at Georgia. We are about to build it. Right now, Rich [LeCounte] laying the foundation, so by the time we come, we are going to put the top on the house.

Q: You could be the Richard LeCounte of the 2019 class. Is that something you might be interested in?

A: "Honestly, I talked to Richard about it and he said it was hard, so it's good to have a leader in front of you to tell you what to do. To tell me what I need and what not to do, what to say and what not to say and he really helped me out with that a lot.

Q: Are you even talking to any other schools at the moment?

A: It's mainly Georgia, but other schools want to see me in person and stuff like that so they really don't believe in me.

Q: So, right now it is mainly just Georgia?

A: Yes sir.

Q: When's the next time you plan on getting back to Athens?

A: Next Saturday I'll be going down to IMG, but I'm trying to get it set up to where I can be at every Georgia home game. Get me a flight from Bradenton right there to Atlanta or Athens and be at EVERY HOME GAME.