ATHENS, GA - NOVEMBER 06: Georgia Bulldogs football helmet during the college football game between the Missouri Tigers and the Georgia Bulldogs on November 06, 2021, at Sanford Stadium in Athens, GA.(Photo by Jeffrey Vest/Icon Sportswire)
The five-star Georgia Bulldogs have received great praise from a Falcons legend.
ATHENS, Ga. — In the realm of college football, few programs can rival the sustained excellence and recruiting dominance of the Georgia Bulldogs in recent years. Armed with national championships, relentless defensive units, and an NFL pipeline, Georgia has emerged not only as the pride of the SEC East, but as a national power whose influence reaches all the way into NFL locker rooms.
Now, that dominance has earned the Bulldogs a glowing endorsement from none other than Atlanta Falcons legend Julio Jones—a future Hall of Famer, former Alabama Crimson Tide star, and one of the most respected voices in the game.
Julio Jones, A Legend’s Voice Carries Weight
Jones is known for letting his game do the talking. Over a decade in the NFL, he built a résumé defined by dominance: over 13,000 receiving yards, multiple Pro Bowls, and a Super Bowl appearance. Though Julio’s roots are Crimson, his respect for the Georgia program—and particularly the recent surge in five-star talent under head coach Kirby Smart—is as genuine as it gets.
During a recent appearance on a local Atlanta sports radio show, Jones didn’t mince words when asked about the current state of Georgia football.
“What Kirby has built at Georgia is insane,” Jones said. “It reminds me of what Coach Saban built at Bama. The five-stars coming in, the culture, the development—it’s championship stuff. And some of those kids coming out of Georgia now? They’re ready to start in the league day one.”
High praise from a man who played for Saban, witnessed the Alabama dynasty from inside the huddle, and spent years going toe-to-toe with the best NFL defenses in the business.
Georgia’s Five-Star Factory
Over the last five recruiting cycles, Georgia has reeled in an eye-popping number of five-star prospects. Whether it’s elite defensive linemen like Jordan Davis and Jalen Carter, or offensive juggernauts like Brock Bowers and Amarius Mims, Georgia has consistently stockpiled the type of talent that transforms college programs into NFL pipelines.
This year’s incoming class includes more of the same: five-star quarterback Ryan Puglisi, freak athlete cornerback Ellis Robinson IV, and dominant edge rusher Dylan Raiola, among others. These are not just blue-chip recruits—they’re players already being talked about in NFL circles.
And for Jones, it’s not just the stars next to their names that make them special.
“It’s how they’re coached,” he said. “You see these guys come out of Georgia with polished techniques, strong fundamentals, and they’re physically ready. That’s not just talent. That’s coaching and culture. Kirby’s got those boys locked in.”
A Legacy of Respect, Not Rivalry
Though the Alabama-Georgia rivalry has intensified over the past decade, particularly with Georgia’s rise to national prominence and their victories in postseason matchups, the respect between the programs runs deep—especially among the legends who helped build them.
Jones spoke at length about the importance of regional dominance and how both Alabama and Georgia have elevated the level of SEC play.
“It used to be Bama and everybody else,” Jones said. “But Georgia’s not chasing anymore—they’re leading. That’s good for the game. That’s good for the South. And as a Falcons guy, seeing that many Georgia dudes ball out? I love it.”
He’s not wrong. In recent Falcons drafts, Georgia players have become popular picks. Just last year, the Falcons selected standout running back and UGA legend, Kenny McIntosh, and in 2022, they grabbed Jordan Davis, a monstrous interior lineman from Athens who has already begun making his mark in the NFL.
NFL Readiness and Bulldog Swagger
There’s a noticeable difference when Georgia players step into the NFL. According to scouts and executives, many of them arrive more “pro-ready” than peers from other programs.
Why? It starts with the strength and conditioning program run by Scott Sinclair, and continues with the way Kirby Smart has patterned his approach after Saban’s NFL-style preparation. Game plans are complex, practices are intense, and competition is fierce. That edge has translated directly to Sundays.
Falcons coaches have taken notice.
“You get a Georgia guy, you know what you’re getting,” said one assistant coach, who asked to remain anonymous. “They’re physical, tough, and they don’t flinch. You put them in an NFL huddle and they belong right away.”
From Athens to Atlanta: A Growing Connection
For years, Georgia fans lamented the lack of Bulldog presence on the Falcons’ roster. That tide has turned in recent drafts, and fans have responded with overwhelming enthusiasm. The possibility of watching their college heroes continue their careers just a few miles away from Sanford Stadium is a dream come true.
Julio Jones sees that connection as more than just convenient—it’s cultural.
“Georgia football is family down here,” he said. “The fans love their Dawgs, and when those guys suit up for the Falcons, it’s like the community wins twice.”
It’s a dynamic he understands well. Though he didn’t play for Georgia, his stardom in Alabama followed him to Atlanta, and he built a bond with the state that went beyond team colors.
“At the end of the day, we all want to see our guys win,” Jones said. “And Georgia’s putting out winners.”
The Kirby Smart Blueprint
Kirby Smart has modeled much of his approach on the principles he learned under Nick Saban, but he’s added his own flair—a more personal, emotional leadership style that resonates deeply with recruits.
That blend of discipline and relatability has made Georgia the destination for elite players, many of whom feel empowered to grow both as athletes and leaders. Julio Jones sees echoes of Saban’s system, but believes Kirby has carved out his own path.
“You can see the influence,” he said. “But Kirby’s got his own thing going. The way he connects with these kids? That’s different. And it’s working.”
Indeed, Smart’s connection with his players has been a critical factor in both recruitment and retention, keeping stars out of the transfer portal and locked in on championship goals.
The Dawgs Keep Rolling
Georgia enters the 2025 season as a top contender once again, returning key pieces on both sides of the ball and welcoming another batch of five-star reinforcements. The expectations are sky-high, but that’s nothing new in Athens.
With every national title, every draft pick, and every dominant win, the program continues to assert itself as the new standard in college football. And when legends like Julio Jones are singing your praises, you know you’ve arrived.
“I’ve seen greatness up close,” Jones said. “And what Georgia’s doing right now? That’s greatness.”
Legends See Legends
In the football world, praise from a peer is valuable. Praise from a legend? That’s something else entirely.
Julio Jones doesn’t give out compliments lightly. But when he watches the five-star Bulldogs dominate Saturdays and slide seamlessly into NFL Sundays, he sees a reflection of the excellence he once embodied.
Georgia may have once looked up to Alabama and other traditional powers. But no longer.
The Bulldogs are here. The talent is undeniable. The results are in. And the praise from one of the game’s greats confirms what fans already knew:
This is Georgia’s era—and the legends are watching.
