BREAKING: Kirby Smart, Georgia Bulldogs Permitted to Have Recruits in Jacksonville

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ATHENS - Georgia Bulldogs coach Kirby Smart is getting his way about hosting recruits in Jacksonville - sort of. 

Two university sources confirmed to Dawg Post that the Bulldogs will be able to provide tickets to recruits for the annual game with the Florida Gators. However, the program and coaches will no interaction with recruits at the game. 

Palmer Toms first reported the news Wednesday. 

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The news comes after years of the Georgia head coach complaining about the disadvantage the Bulldogs have playing in Jacksonville without the ability to host recruits. In 2022, Kirby and his staff will only be permitted to leave tickets for recruits - not have any interaction with them or their guests. 

Smart told the SEC Network in July that he was very concerned about the recruiting landscape, and what he describes as a disadvantage for his program playing the game in Jacksonville annually without the ability to host recruits. 

“I’m competing against guys all across the SEC who host kids at their biggest game,” Kirby said.. “When Auburn plays Alabama - guess where the recruits are? They’re at Auburn. And when LSU and Alabama play that’s where the biggest recruits want to go. So it’s an opportunity for us to bring these kids that fly in from all over the country… what game do they want to come see Georgia play? They’d like to see Georgia play Florida. They can’t do that. It’s very important. Recruiting is very important. I just can’t get a Florida coach to agree with me about it.”

Florida, Georgia and the City of Jacksonville have an agreement for the game to remain at its current location until 2025. It is not abnormal for programs to host recruits at neutral-site games. Georgia hosted recruits in last year’s season opener against No. 3 Clemson.