Kirby Smart and Key Georgia Bulldogs Leaders Outline Championship Vision at 2025 SEC Media Days Appearance in Front of National Audience
The Georgia Bulldogs arrived at the 2025 SEC Media Days with a calm confidence that can only come from a program that has firmly established itself as one of the dominant forces in college football. With head coach Kirby Smart at the podium flanked by a trio of seasoned veterans, the Bulldogs made it clear that while 2024 didn’t end with a national title, the goals and expectations remain unchanged heading into the 2025 season.
Kirby Smart wasted no time addressing the elephant in the room. The Bulldogs, a team that was favored by many to win it all last season, fell just short in their playoff quest. But Smart doesn’t view the campaign as a failure—far from it. To him, it was another chapter in a larger story that is still unfolding. As he stood before the media in Dallas, his message was unmistakable: Georgia is reloaded, refocused, and ready to reclaim its place at the top of college football.
“We don’t measure success by what we almost did,” Smart said. “We measure it by how we respond. The guys we brought with us today are examples of that mindset. They’re leaders. They’re competitors. And they’re hungry.”
The players joining Smart at the podium were emblematic of the team’s identity. Quarterback Gunner Stockton, linebacker Jalon Walker, and offensive tackle Earnest Greene III each took turns answering questions, providing insight into both the individual growth within the team and the collective mindset as Georgia prepares to enter what could be one of the most competitive SEC seasons in recent memory.
Stockton, now firmly entrenched as Georgia’s starting quarterback after a strong finish to 2024, spoke with poise and maturity beyond his years. His performance late last season gave fans a glimpse of the offensive firepower Georgia might unleash this fall, and the buzz around his development has only grown louder. When asked about the pressure of leading a program with such high expectations, Stockton embraced the challenge.
“Pressure is a privilege here,” Stockton said. “Coach Smart reminds us every day that if no one expects anything from you, you’re not at Georgia. We welcome it. We thrive in it.”
Stockton emphasized the work done in the offseason with new offensive coordinator James Coley, who returned to Athens this past winter to retake the reins of the offense. The two have reportedly built strong chemistry, and Stockton noted the evolution of the scheme that aims to blend Georgia’s power-running roots with more vertical, aggressive passing concepts.
“We’ve got weapons all over the field,” Stockton said. “And with the offensive line we’ve got, I feel confident every time I step under center. We’re going to take shots. We’re going to stay balanced. And we’re going to stay aggressive.”
That offensive line—anchored by Greene—may be one of Georgia’s strongest units heading into the season. Greene, now a senior and projected first-round NFL Draft pick, provided a veteran’s perspective at Media Days. Soft-spoken but intense, he spoke about accountability, chemistry, and how this year’s offensive unit has gelled both on and off the field.
“We’ve put in a lot of work,” Greene said. “The offseason grind, the early morning sessions, the film work—this group is locked in. We know what the standard is. We’ve been there. Now it’s about getting back.”
On the other side of the ball, linebacker Jalon Walker has emerged as the emotional and vocal leader of Georgia’s defense. The junior has taken over the leadership mantle from the likes of Nakobe Dean and Jamon Dumas-Johnson, and he embraced that role at Media Days with a tone that mirrored Smart’s no-nonsense intensity.
“We don’t flinch,” Walker said. “Last year taught us that it takes more than talent. It takes focus, it takes discipline, and it takes sacrifice. That’s what this defense is about.”
Georgia’s defense, long the calling card of Smart’s program, returns multiple starters and brings in several highly rated young players ready to step into larger roles. Walker highlighted the depth and versatility across all three levels of the defense, pointing to a few underclassmen who have impressed during spring and summer workouts.
“The young guys? They’re hungry,” he said. “They’re pushing the vets every single day. And that’s how you build something special.”
Walker was also asked about the rising competition in the SEC. With Texas and Oklahoma now fully integrated into the league, the conference is as deep and dangerous as it has ever been. But Walker, echoing the sentiment of his coach, didn’t flinch.
“We respect everybody,” he said. “But we fear nobody. We’re focused on Georgia. We control what we can control. The rest takes care of itself.”
Coach Smart elaborated on that same point when asked about how Georgia is preparing for what many believe will be the most challenging SEC schedule in years. The Bulldogs are set to face a gauntlet that includes matchups with Alabama, Texas, Ole Miss, and archrival Florida, in addition to a non-conference test against Clemson to open the season.
“You want to be the best, you’ve got to beat the best,” Smart said. “There’s no easy paths in this league. That’s why we recruit the way we do. That’s why we develop like we do. This schedule? It’s exactly what we want. It brings out the best in us.”
The conversation inevitably turned toward Georgia’s recruiting dominance. Once again, Smart and his staff have assembled one of the top classes in the country. But the head coach was quick to deflect praise, instead crediting the staff’s consistency and the culture that has been built over the past eight years.
“Recruiting is about relationships,” Smart said. “It’s about trust. It’s about showing families that when their son comes to Georgia, he’s going to be pushed, supported, and prepared for life after football.”
That message has clearly resonated, not just with recruits but with current players. When asked why he chose to stay another year rather than enter the NFL Draft, Greene pointed to unfinished business.
“We didn’t get what we came for last year,” Greene said. “And I wanted to be part of this team one more time. To finish what we started.”
Stockton expressed a similar sentiment, noting the bond that has formed between players in the locker room.
“This is more than a team—it’s a brotherhood,” he said. “We fight for each other. We hold each other accountable. That’s what makes Georgia special.”
Throughout their appearance, the Bulldogs struck the perfect balance between humility and determination. There was no trash talk, no boastful declarations. Just a clear, unified voice: Georgia knows who it is, what it wants, and how to get there.
As the 2025 season approaches, expectations in Athens will be sky-high, and for good reason. With a seasoned quarterback, a loaded defense, and one of the most respected coaching staffs in the country, Georgia once again looks like a national title contender. But as Smart made clear, the focus isn’t on rings or rankings—it’s on the process.
“Our goal is to be the best version of ourselves every day,” Smart said. “The wins take care of themselves when you do that.”
With SEC Media Days now behind them, the Bulldogs return to Athens to begin the final phase of preparation before fall camp begins. The energy is high, the motivation is real, and the mission is clear: restore the throne.
If the words spoken in Dallas are any indication, the rest of the college football world better be ready—because Georgia isn’t going anywhere. In fact, they might be coming back stronger than ever.
