Smart's first UGA signing class shapes up nicely. No shock there

It was the maniacal Saban who said, after Alabama beat Notre Dame for the BCS title, “That damn game cost me a week of recruiting.” It was also Saban who, when asked what he did with his championship rings, said: “Sometimes I throw them on the table for the recruits."

Smart arrived in Athens with three such rings and a fourth awaiting delivery. Apparently that impressed a few touted teenagers enough for them to honor the commitments they'd made to a different coach. And two 5-star prospects – tight end Isaac Nauta and "athlete" Mecole Hardman Jr. – pledged themselves to Georgia after the coaching change. At issue, as ever, is whether the Bulldogs will win bigger under the new man. As heartening as it was to see the heralded Jacob Eason enroll last month, Richt didn't want for big-name quarterbacks. (Until the end. Might there have been a connection?)

For now, all we can know about Smart as head ball coach is that recruiting hasn’t suffered. But recruiting at Georgia has rarely been an issue. Coaching ’em up has. Guessing you knew that already.

Late-afternoon update: Even with Derrick Brown picking Auburn and E.J. Price opting for USC -- and not the one in Columbia, S.C. -- Georgia's class ranks among the top 10 according to Rivals , Scout , ESPN and 247 Sports . And here we note that Smart didn't move to Athens full-time until Jan. 12, the day after Alabama beat Clemson for the national title. Given the circumstances, that's a pretty fair haul.

Oh, and about Georgia Tech: After a terrible season, Tech reaps a tepid signing class.