02-24-2025, 12:11 PM
Story by Ameek Abdullah Jamal and Shootist
Ain’t no rest for the wicked in college football, and Kirby Smart sure as hell ain’t letting his foot off the gas. The Georgia Bulldogs just handed Texas two Ls on the field in 2024, but now the battle’s shifting off the gridiron and into the trenches of recruiting and staff poaching. Word on the street is that an SEC rival made a sneaky move to snatch up a key Georgia staffer—someone who’s been deep in the Dawgs’ war room, cooking up elite recruiting classes year after year. But Kirby Smart? Man, he saw that play coming from a mile away.
Instead of taking the hit, he flipped the script and locked down his guy before the opposition could even celebrate. So, who was the target? And how did Kirby shut that whole thing down before it got out of hand?
According to Georgia Bulldogs insider Rusty Mansell, an unnamed SEC school made a push to steal away James Ellis, a critical behind-the-scenes operator in UGA’s recruiting department. Mansell, speaking live with Jake Reuse, broke it down while giving props to James Ellis: “Everybody has a role. James Ellis got it. Kind of our good buddy Matt Godwin when he worked under Matt Godwin. He kind of took some of that role. James Ellis does a lot of film review with Kirby Smart. Kirby Smart goes to watch tape when it’s one-on-one. You’ll watch that tape with James Ellis. Don’t go over players. He does a lot of organizational stuff off the field.”
And then Rusty Mansell spilled the tea on the situation while giving roses to Dawgs' behind-the-door heroes. “You know those guys are; you don’t hear their name a lot, but trust me, they’re very important roles. And from my understanding, another SEC school came after James Ellis and Kirby elevated him, gave him, most likely, a raise and a title.” Another casual W move by Kirby Smart.
James Ellis has been a silent assassin for Georgia since 2019, helping shape every recruiting class since 2020. This man has had a hand in securing 25 five-star recruits, including names like Ellis Robinson IV, Elijah Griffin, Nolan Smith Jr., and Kelee Ringo. And now? He’s getting his flowers. Georgia just promoted Ellis to Director of Scouting, ensuring that no other program—SEC rival or otherwise—could lure him away. Kirby saw the play, read the defense, and threw a darn touchdown before the other team even got set.
This ain’t just about keeping a staffer—it’s about keeping the whole Georgia recruiting machine rolling at full speed. And the numbers—they don’t lie. Since Ellis joined Georgia’s recruiting team, the Bulldogs have locked in two No. 1 recruiting classes and stayed in the top four every single year. Ellis has been working under Will Myers, the Bulldogs’ Director of Player Personnel, since 2023, and his fingerprints are all over Georgia’s recent dominance in recruiting. Ever since Ellis came on board, UGA hasn’t had a recruiting class ranked lower than fourth in the nation. That’s dynasty-building work right there. Texas and other SEC squads are trying to catch up, but Kirby made it loud and clear: Georgia isn’t handing out freebies.
Kirby Smart’s recruiting war—Dawgs over Texas
The recruiting war between Georgia and Texas is officially heating up, and this ain’t just about some off-field chess match. The Dawgs and Longhorns low-key locked in an all-out battle for the top 2025 recruiting class. And while Georgia won the war on the field last season, Texas is throwing crazy NIL money around trying to stack up talent for the future.
Texas holds the No. 1 spot in the national recruiting rankings. But Georgia is sitting right there at No. 2, breathing down their necks. The Longhorns are loaded up with five five-stars and 13 four-stars, headlined by elite defensive end Lance Jackson, who is the No. 5 overall prospect. They even snatched up Justus Terry—one of Georgia’s own—by offering a better NIL deal.
But the Dawgs? They still landed four five-stars, including a monster in Elijah Griffin, a 6’5”, 300-pound defensive tackle out of Savannah who’s about to wreak havoc in the SEC. Texas might be making noise, but Georgia is still running the show.
The Dawgs’ 2025 class is big-time loaded with big-time ballers. Five-star edge rusher Isaiah Gibson is a straight-up quarterback hunter. Tight end Elyiss Williams? 6’7 and built like a tank, ready to keep Georgia’s tight-end legacy alive. Wide receiver Talyn Taylor? It's a deep-threat weapon that’s only going to get better under Georgia’s system.
The Dawgs have a mix of homegrown talent and out-of-state steals, proving once again that Kirby and his squad know exactly how to stack their roster.
With NIL deals shifting the game, recruiting battles are getting downright ruthless. But one thing’s for sure—Kirby Smart isn’t letting Georgia get outbid or outmaneuvered. Locking down James Ellis was just another chess move in a high-stakes game where every piece matters. The Dawgs and Longhorns are setting the tone for the future of college football. And if history tells us anything, when it comes to winning when it matters, bet on the Dawgs every time.
Ain’t no rest for the wicked in college football, and Kirby Smart sure as hell ain’t letting his foot off the gas. The Georgia Bulldogs just handed Texas two Ls on the field in 2024, but now the battle’s shifting off the gridiron and into the trenches of recruiting and staff poaching. Word on the street is that an SEC rival made a sneaky move to snatch up a key Georgia staffer—someone who’s been deep in the Dawgs’ war room, cooking up elite recruiting classes year after year. But Kirby Smart? Man, he saw that play coming from a mile away.
Instead of taking the hit, he flipped the script and locked down his guy before the opposition could even celebrate. So, who was the target? And how did Kirby shut that whole thing down before it got out of hand?
According to Georgia Bulldogs insider Rusty Mansell, an unnamed SEC school made a push to steal away James Ellis, a critical behind-the-scenes operator in UGA’s recruiting department. Mansell, speaking live with Jake Reuse, broke it down while giving props to James Ellis: “Everybody has a role. James Ellis got it. Kind of our good buddy Matt Godwin when he worked under Matt Godwin. He kind of took some of that role. James Ellis does a lot of film review with Kirby Smart. Kirby Smart goes to watch tape when it’s one-on-one. You’ll watch that tape with James Ellis. Don’t go over players. He does a lot of organizational stuff off the field.”
And then Rusty Mansell spilled the tea on the situation while giving roses to Dawgs' behind-the-door heroes. “You know those guys are; you don’t hear their name a lot, but trust me, they’re very important roles. And from my understanding, another SEC school came after James Ellis and Kirby elevated him, gave him, most likely, a raise and a title.” Another casual W move by Kirby Smart.
James Ellis has been a silent assassin for Georgia since 2019, helping shape every recruiting class since 2020. This man has had a hand in securing 25 five-star recruits, including names like Ellis Robinson IV, Elijah Griffin, Nolan Smith Jr., and Kelee Ringo. And now? He’s getting his flowers. Georgia just promoted Ellis to Director of Scouting, ensuring that no other program—SEC rival or otherwise—could lure him away. Kirby saw the play, read the defense, and threw a darn touchdown before the other team even got set.
This ain’t just about keeping a staffer—it’s about keeping the whole Georgia recruiting machine rolling at full speed. And the numbers—they don’t lie. Since Ellis joined Georgia’s recruiting team, the Bulldogs have locked in two No. 1 recruiting classes and stayed in the top four every single year. Ellis has been working under Will Myers, the Bulldogs’ Director of Player Personnel, since 2023, and his fingerprints are all over Georgia’s recent dominance in recruiting. Ever since Ellis came on board, UGA hasn’t had a recruiting class ranked lower than fourth in the nation. That’s dynasty-building work right there. Texas and other SEC squads are trying to catch up, but Kirby made it loud and clear: Georgia isn’t handing out freebies.
Kirby Smart’s recruiting war—Dawgs over Texas
The recruiting war between Georgia and Texas is officially heating up, and this ain’t just about some off-field chess match. The Dawgs and Longhorns low-key locked in an all-out battle for the top 2025 recruiting class. And while Georgia won the war on the field last season, Texas is throwing crazy NIL money around trying to stack up talent for the future.
Texas holds the No. 1 spot in the national recruiting rankings. But Georgia is sitting right there at No. 2, breathing down their necks. The Longhorns are loaded up with five five-stars and 13 four-stars, headlined by elite defensive end Lance Jackson, who is the No. 5 overall prospect. They even snatched up Justus Terry—one of Georgia’s own—by offering a better NIL deal.
But the Dawgs? They still landed four five-stars, including a monster in Elijah Griffin, a 6’5”, 300-pound defensive tackle out of Savannah who’s about to wreak havoc in the SEC. Texas might be making noise, but Georgia is still running the show.
The Dawgs’ 2025 class is big-time loaded with big-time ballers. Five-star edge rusher Isaiah Gibson is a straight-up quarterback hunter. Tight end Elyiss Williams? 6’7 and built like a tank, ready to keep Georgia’s tight-end legacy alive. Wide receiver Talyn Taylor? It's a deep-threat weapon that’s only going to get better under Georgia’s system.
The Dawgs have a mix of homegrown talent and out-of-state steals, proving once again that Kirby and his squad know exactly how to stack their roster.
With NIL deals shifting the game, recruiting battles are getting downright ruthless. But one thing’s for sure—Kirby Smart isn’t letting Georgia get outbid or outmaneuvered. Locking down James Ellis was just another chess move in a high-stakes game where every piece matters. The Dawgs and Longhorns are setting the tone for the future of college football. And if history tells us anything, when it comes to winning when it matters, bet on the Dawgs every time.
