With 13 players selected in a historic college football surge, Kirby Smart turns the Georgia Bulldogs into an NFL factory.

In the ever-evolving world of college football, few programs have undergone a transformation as dramatic—and as successful—as the Georgia Bulldogs under the leadership of head coach Kirby Smart. Once a respected but occasionally inconsistent presence in the Southeastern Conference (SEC), Georgia has ascended to the top tier of college football’s elite, marked not just by national championships and dominant defenses, but by its ability to consistently develop NFL-ready talent.

That point was driven home in resounding fashion during the 2025 NFL Draft, where Georgia set a modern-era school record with 13 players selected, further cementing Smart’s program as a premier pipeline to the professional ranks. In doing so, Georgia joined the likes of Alabama, LSU, and Ohio State as college football’s most potent NFL factories.

The 13 Bulldogs selected in the 2025 NFL Draft marked the highest total for any program this year and tied Georgia’s own 2022 record for most players taken in a single draft. The achievement is not merely a numerical milestone—it’s a symbol of the sheer depth, development, and dominance the program has exhibited under Smart’s stewardship.

Among the 13 were impact players on both sides of the ball, with six defenders—a testament to Georgia’s vaunted reputation for fielding suffocating, NFL-caliber defenses—and seven offensive standouts, including a pair of offensive linemen, a running back, and three wide receivers. Every position group, from the trenches to the secondary, had a Georgia Bulldog earn the call to the next level.

What makes this draft even more telling is the consistency: Georgia has had at least 10 players drafted in three of the last four years, a feat matched by only Alabama and Ohio State over the past decade. This consistency illustrates a clear trend—Georgia is not just a college football powerhouse; it’s a launchpad for NFL careers.

When Kirby Smart took over as head coach in December 2015, he made no secret of his ambitions. The former Alabama defensive coordinator, mentored by Nick Saban, brought with him a championship blueprint and an uncompromising focus on development, recruiting, and culture.

“I want Georgia to be the premier program in the country,” Smart said in his introductory press conference. “Not just winning games, but preparing young men for life—and for the NFL, if that’s where their path leads.”

Nearly a decade later, he’s delivered on every promise.

Since 2016, Georgia has compiled a 99-15 record under Smart, won two national championships (2021, 2022), appeared in four College Football Playoffs, and claimed three SEC titles. Yet, perhaps his most underappreciated accomplishment is his unmatched ability to take high-potential recruits and mold them into high-floor NFL prospects.

Smart’s recruiting classes have consistently ranked among the nation’s best. Georgia has landed a top-5 class in every year since 2017, and many of the players selected in the 2025 NFL Draft were part of the 2020 and 2021 recruiting hauls, widely regarded as among the strongest in program history.

But stars on signing day only mean so much. What separates Georgia from most other elite programs is its ability to turn those stars into starters—and those starters into draft picks. From weight room development and scheme fit to academic accountability and mental preparation, Georgia’s football machine emphasizes a total, professionalized approach to player development.

Players like Malaki Starks, Sedrick Van Pran, and Kamari Lassiter didn’t just flash in college; they emerged as polished, pro-ready athletes with a deep understanding of the game. NFL teams aren’t just drafting athletes from Georgia—they’re drafting players who can contribute from Day 1.

It’s no surprise that defense continues to be Georgia’s identity under Smart, a defensive-minded coach who has built perhaps the most suffocating units in recent college football memory. In 2021 and 2022, Georgia finished first in the nation in scoring defense and total defense. Those teams produced first-rounders like Travon Walker, Jordan Davis, and Nakobe Dean. The 2025 draft class followed suit.

Headlining this year’s defensive picks was Kamari Lassiter, the lockdown corner who went in the first round and is already projected as a Week 1 starter for his NFL team. Smael Mondon Jr., an athletic linebacker with sideline-to-sideline range, and Nazir Stackhouse, a mammoth presence on the interior line, followed in the second and third rounds.

All told, Georgia has now produced 27 defensive draft picks since 2020 alone—an astounding number that leads all Power Five programs. In many ways, Kirby Smart’s defenses have become the closest college approximation to what NFL coordinators demand: aggressive, gap-sound, and fundamentally elite.

Early in Smart’s tenure, Georgia was criticized for its conservative, run-heavy offensive philosophy. But that perception has steadily shifted as the Bulldogs have modernized their approach and embraced explosive, balanced offensive play.

The 2025 draft class showed the fruits of that evolution.

Quarterback Carson Beck, a late riser and polished pocket passer, went off the board in Round 2 to a quarterback-needy team. Beck’s accuracy, decision-making, and experience in a pro-style system made him a popular target among NFL scouts. He became the second Georgia QB drafted in the last five years, following Jake Fromm in 2020.

Meanwhile, Brock Bowers, though technically part of the 2024 class, helped pave the way for Georgia’s offensive credibility. This year, wide receivers Ladd McConkey, Marcus Rosemy-Jacksaint, and Dominic Lovett each heard their names called—an extraordinary outcome considering Georgia wasn’t traditionally viewed as a receiver factory.

Behind them, running back Daijun Edwards was drafted as a versatile back capable of contributing on all three downs. And offensive linemen Tate Ratledge and Amarius Mims went in the top three rounds, continuing Georgia’s proud tradition of producing elite trench talent.

The theme across Georgia’s draft success is clear: development. Players don’t just arrive at Georgia as stars; they become better with each season in Athens.

“We take pride in growing every guy, whether he’s a five-star or a walk-on,” Smart said during the NFL Combine. “That’s what the NFL is noticing—our players come in prepared. They know how to study, how to work, and how to win.”

That culture has made Georgia one of the most trusted programs for NFL general managers. Multiple scouts and executives noted in interviews that Georgia prospects are seen as “safe bets”—athletically and mentally equipped to handle the rigors of the league.

It’s also why Georgia leads all programs in NFL roster representation as of 2025, with over 70 active players in the league. And it’s not just quantity—it’s quality. Names like Roquan Smith, George Pickens, Jordan Davis, and Jalen Carter are already cornerstones of their NFL franchises.

For years, Alabama under Nick Saban was the gold standard for producing NFL talent. And while the Crimson Tide remains elite, Georgia has closed the gap—and perhaps even surpassed its SEC rival in terms of annual draft output.

From 2022–2025, Georgia has seen 42 players drafted, compared to Alabama’s 36 in the same span. The shift is symbolic of a broader changing of the guard in the SEC: Georgia isn’t just following Saban’s blueprint—it’s creating its own.

Kirby Smart’s program mirrors Alabama’s best traits—elite recruiting, player development, and defensive dominance—but adds a unique Georgia flavor: homegrown leadership, a more adaptable offensive identity, and a relentless focus on sustainable success.

It’s not just fans and media recognizing Georgia’s rise. NFL head coaches and scouts have gone out of their way to praise the Bulldogs’ program.

“They do things the right way in Athens,” one AFC scout said. “You know a Georgia guy is going to come in with a strong foundation. That matters when you’re trying to build a locker room.”

Another NFC executive compared Georgia’s program to a “mini-NFL franchise,” citing its state-of-the-art facilities, sports science investments, and the professionalism instilled by Smart and his staff.

The scary part for the rest of college football? Georgia isn’t slowing down.

The Bulldogs already boast one of the top recruiting classes for 2026, and spring ball showcased rising stars like linebacker Raylen Wilson, cornerback A.J. Harris, and offensive tackle Earnest Greene III, all of whom are considered future first-round talents.

With quarterback Gunner Stockton showing promise and elite prospects continuing to flock to Athens, the machine keeps humming.

Even as NIL and the transfer portal create chaos across the college football landscape, Georgia has managed to maintain continuity, discipline, and excellence—a testament to its rock-solid culture and Smart’s leadership.

With 13 players drafted in 2025, Kirby Smart didn’t just make history—he solidified a legacy. Georgia is no longer a program chasing relevance or playing catch-up with the likes of Alabama or Ohio State. It’s now the standard-bearer, the proving ground, the destination for athletes who dream of Sundays.

Smart has built something sustainable, something elite, and something feared. And with each draft, he’s turning more Bulldogs into pros—and Georgia into the undisputed NFL factory of college football.