Barring any last-minute snags in negotiations, Georgia is expected to hire Alabama defensive coordinator Kirby Smart as its new head coach.

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported the news Tuesday night.

Smart played for Georgia from 1995-98 and served as a team captain as a senior. He spent 11 of the last 12 years as an assistant for coach Nick Saban, first at LSU (defensive backs, 2004) and then with the Miami Dolphins (safeties, 2006).

He coached Georgia’s running backs in ’05, followed Saban to Tuscaloosa in 2007 and became defensive coordinator in ’09. The Tide have won three national championships with Smart in that position.

According to the AJC, Georgia will not make an official announcement until after the SEC championship game on Saturday. The timing is interesting, as Alabama should make the College Football Playoff by beating Florida.

Also, the AJC is reporting that only defensive line coach Tracy Rocker will remain on staff. Defensive coordinator Jeremy Pruitt, who worked as a staff member and then an assistant on Smart’s defense at Alabama from 2007-12, will not remain on staff, the paper is reporting.

He may re-join Saban in Tuscaloosa as the new Tide defensive coordinator.