Whether you like or despise Bill Belichick, he’s undeniably one of the best football coaches of all-time. The New England head coach has shown time and time again that he can find and develop players, even if they weren’t obvious first-round talents.
In recent years, Belichick has taken to drafting or signing a number of Georgia players. He signed David Andrews after the 2015 NFL Draft; Andrews has since gone on to become one of the best centers in the league. In 2018, he drafted two Bulldogs — Isaiah Wynn and Sony Michel — in the first round.
And while speaking at Super Bowl Media Day, Belichick explained why he’s grown so fond of Georgia players.
"I think Kirby's program is excellent to prepare guys for the National Football League," Belichick said.
Kirby Smart can now walk into any home in the country and prove that Georgia is a place that can put you into the NFL. He began to show it last year when Michel, Wynn, Roquan Smith and Nick Chubb were all taken in the first 35 picks of the 2018 NFL Draft.
And Smart’s draft resume figures to only get longer in the 2019 NFL Draft. Cornerback Deandre Baker, who Smart helped develop into Georgia’s first Jim Thorpe Award winner, has a very good chance of going in the first round. Baker didn’t come to Athens as some mega recruit either. Smart played a big role into turning him into the nation’s top defensive backs.
It’s not hard to see Belichick once again picking another former Bulldog or two in this year’s NFL draft. Someone like outside linebacker D’Andre Walker or tight end Isaac Nauta could fit very well into the Patriots’ system. Those two specifically were very productive at Georgia, and fill possible needs for New England going forward.
Belichick wasn’t the only one who gave Smart and Georgia something to pitch to future Bulldogs. Even years after learning from Smart, former Alabama safety and current Los Angeles Ram Mark Barron praised his former position coach for helping him become a starter in the Super Bowl.
“He taught me so much of what I know about football today,” Barron said. “That’s my guy. It was really just a matter of time before he became a great head coach.”
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