After being drafted No. 8 overall by the Chicago Bears, former Georiga linebacker Roquan Smith received a message of congratulations from his former coach, Mark Richt.

Richt, now the coach at Miami, coached the Bulldogs from 2001-2015.

“Congratulations to Roquan Smith,” Richt wrote on Twitter Thursday night. “The newest Chicago Bear!”

Smith, who was coached by Richt in 2015 and 2016, recorded 252 total tackles, 20.5 tackles for loss and 6.5 sacks, three fumble recoveries and three forced fumbles in three seasons at Georgia.

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Public Service Commission candidate Peter Hubbard gets a hug from Brionté McCorkle, executive director of Georgia Conservation Voters, during an election-night party in Southwest Atlanta on Tuesday, Nov. 4, 2025.  (Ben Gray for the AJC)

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