Georgia's Kirby Smart Takes Shot at Non-SEC Programs Over Recruiting

The SEC set the record for most first-round picks by a conference in the NFL Draft with 15 on Thursday, beating the previous record of 12. In rounds two and three, another 25 players heard their names called. The SEC's dominance culminated in a three-round record of 40 players, the most ever in the first two days of the draft.

Currently, the SEC has more draft picks (40) than the Big Ten (17), Big 12 (12) and ACC (8) combined. Led by LSU and Alabama, each of whom had 10 players selected, it was made clear no conference is anywhere close to rivaling the talent there is down south. As a result, Georgia coach Kirby Smart used the opportunity to take a few shots at opposing coaches around the country during his appearance on the Paul Finebaum Show Friday.

"Some coaches outside of our conference tell [recruits] that it's better to not go to the SEC because it's too tough, too competitive, and you might not have as good of a career there."

- Kirby Smart just now on our show ... which coaches/schools is he talking about? ?

FULL: pic.twitter.com/6pkm1pntzZ
— Paul Finebaum (@finebaum) April 24, 2020

Smart claimed some coaches were trying to scare players away from the SEC by arguing the conference was too competitive. Clearly, that tactic has not worked as the gap between the SEC and the rest of the country continues to widen. Not only that, but SEC players are ending up kickstaring their careers in a fast way by getting drafted early and often.

Georgia coach @KirbySmartUGA on the NFL Draft. "It's like the SEC Draft with two other teams in it. That’s the way it’s going to be for the time to come if you look at the recruiting across our conference. The separation is becoming greater.”
— Paul Finebaum (@finebaum) April 24, 2020

Smart saw offensive tackle Andrew Thomas go fourth overall to the New York Giants, Isaiah Wilson, another tackle, selected 29th overall to the Tennessee Titans, and D'Andre Swift, a first-round talent, get picked by the Detroit Lions at No. 35.

Some people may not want to hear it, but Smart is right. Outside of the SEC, only Clemson, Ohio State, and Oklahoma see consistent success on the field and in the draft. With this commanding performance in the 2020 NFL Draft, that trend does not appear to be slowing down any time soon.