Recruiting Paused at UGA, SEC

ATHENS - Kirby Smart’s recruiting powerhouse will be put on hold until April. 

SEC Commissioner Greg Sankey announced Thursday in Nashville that member institutions will not be permitted to recruit in person until after March 30. 

“I (have) stopped off campus and on campus recruiting for a period of time,” Sankey said in a press conference. “That could be extended. I've identified the NCAA needs to fully engage on this issue as well. The practice issue may be for them nationally. I think we had some conversations. I don't know that we came to a destination, so that means it's still on that list that we're creating.”

UGA has not cancelled spring football practices this century for off-field matters, but the SEC has suspended all games until March 31. 

“We've talked about recruiting issues, spring practice, practice. I don't have all the answers. What we said is at the president's and chancellor's level we'll delegate authority to our athletics directors to make some of these operational decisions, and that conversation has continued since I departed the room. We're not all at destinations at this time. We may not govern every one of those elements. In fact, the NCAA may need to engage and quickly govern some of those elements. I've sent a text to Mark Emmert saying the NCAA should engage in on and off campus recruiting policies and changes and, candidly, restrictions for a period of time while we're all dealing with this. That would set everyone on an even plane rather quickly.