Kirby Smart speaks to how Brock Bowers can further develop as a junior

Kirby Smart is not shy about his feelings for Brock Bowers. After all, it’s hard not to have strong feelings for a tight end that captured the Mackey Award as a true sophomore and is one of the most versatile weapons in the game today.

“Love him, that dude,” said Smart. in a sitdown interview with Marty and McGee for the SEC Network.

As a part of that segment, Smart was asked about Bowers’ development and where the superstar TE still has room to grow this fall. Smart admitted it’s hard for Georgia to claim all of Bowers’ development because he arrived in Athens as a polished player.

At this point in Bowers’ career, Smart said it’s mainly about the player finding ways to become more vocal because he was not always comfortable talking a lot.

“It’s hard to use the word devolpment in him. We’ll claim it, we’ll take credit for it, but he was really good when he got here,” Smart admitted. “That was the first game against Clemson where he played really well to the point of we had to develop schemes to fit his talent. It’s less about developing him as it is football plays to get him touches because he is the target for most defenses. They want to know where he’s at, they’re tracking him.

“His biggest thing has been opening up and being comfortable talking because that was never who he really was. He’s done it by example and he continues to do it by example.”

“No one will make it easier or fear you more because of what you did last year.”

There’s no room for complacency for the back-to-back national champs ? @GeorgiaFootball pic.twitter.com/pTEYu9cVie

— SEC Network (@SECNetwork) August 18, 2023

Paul Harvey

Paul Harvey lives in Atlanta and covers SEC football.