CKS is very blunt and ruffled feathers here when he was first hired announcing our players were too small and soft in essence and that we needed a complete engine overhaul if you will. Take a look at his roster, our best TE is from Napa Valley and second best at 6’7” 270 plus from Nevada. Our freshman punter is from Australia.
Sure GA NC SC FLA are loaded with players so you don’t have to go far from home to recruit, but Kirby has taken it nationwide and beyond. Also our facilities are first class with a 95k seat stadium along with some seriously rabid fans, all helping Kirby’s process. Kirby cameto UGA and began demanding upgrades to already very nice facilities, and he got them.
Give CDL some time to get out there and find that player from TX or Mass or even Ga., he will get you commitments and ballers at that. There are plenty of kids that would love to even visit your State and Campus on officials with a solid chance at landing them. Trot the cheerleaders out and that alone would draw commitments!
We have always had a handful of ballers on every UGA team but never had a coach like Smart that is absolutely relentless at recruiting and coaching them up. Also coach Smart is a former Dog DB under Vince Dooley but comes directly off the Saban coaching tree, like the strongest limb closest to the trunk. It would be tough to be St Nicks d coordinator, I would think.
This year we have a mostly new defensive group but we go 2-3 deep which helps in the high heat and humidity of the Deep South.
Best of luck moving forward to the Ducks.