ATHENS, GA (January 23, 2026) — For nearly a decade, Kirby Smart has been the immovable object of college football. He has built the University of Georgia into a modern dynasty, a machine designed to churn out NFL talent and national championships with terrifying efficiency.¹ The narrative has always been clear: You come to Georgia to work, to suffer, and to win. If you leave, it’s usually because you couldn’t hack the “standard,” or you were buried on the depth chart behind a future first-round pick.

But a new report surfacing this week has challenged that comfortable assumption, sending ripples of unease through the “Dawg Nation.”

Following a disappointing exit in the College Football Playoff and a turbulent transfer window, comments from a trusted program insider have shed new light on a specific, high-profile departure that suggests the “Georgia way” might be losing its grip on even its most successful products.

The Quote That Changed the Conversation

The discourse shifted late Thursday following a segment on a popular team-affiliated broadcast, where a program insider dropped a single sentence that has since dominated message boards and social media groups: “And he still chose to leave.”

The comment was made in reference to the recent transfer of a key defensive starter—widely believed to be veteran defensive back Joenel Aguero, who entered the transfer portal earlier this month before committing to Ole Miss.²

While transfer portal losses are now a fact of life in the NIL (Name, Image, and Likeness) era, the insider’s elaboration paints a worrying picture. According to sources close to the program, this was not a case of a player seeking greener pastures due to a lack of playing time. It wasn’t a “processing” (a polite term for cutting a player). It was a rejection of the situation itself.

“He wasn’t pushed out. He wasn’t marginalized. He wasn’t ignored,” the insider reported. “He had access. He had opportunity. He had a clearly defined role as a starter on a championship-contending defense. He was being developed by the best defensive minds in the sport. And he still chose to leave.”

A Crack in the Armor?

For years, Kirby Smart has insulated his program with the belief that “if you buy in, you stay.” Departures were often spun as “trimming the fat”—players who weren’t tough enough or good enough to meet the grueling demands of Smart’s physical practices.

However, the departure of a player like Aguero—a multi-year contributor who had ostensibly “bought in” for three seasons—strikes a different chord. If a player who has already paid the price of admission, secured a starting spot, and is ostensibly thriving within the system still decides that the grass is greener elsewhere, what does that say about the environment inside the Butts-Mehre Heritage Hall?

“It changes the math,” said one longtime Georgia analyst. “We always assumed that if you were a starter at Georgia, you weren’t going anywhere unless the NFL came calling. This suggests that for some kids, the ‘grind’ isn’t worth it anymore, even if the playing time is there. That’s a scary thought for a program built entirely on the grind.”

The NIL Factor vs. The “Standard”

Speculation inevitably turns to Name, Image, and Likeness compensation. It is no secret that other programs—specifically Ole Miss under Lane Kiffin—have become aggressive in the marketplace. However, Georgia is not a pauper in the NIL space. The Bulldogs’ collective is among the most robust in the country.

The insider’s comments suggest that money was a factor, but not the only factor. There is a growing sentiment that the relentless pressure of the Georgia environment, combined with the ease of movement provided by the portal, is creating a “burnout” effect.

“Kirby demands perfection every single day, Tuesday through Saturday,” the insider noted. “For a long time, the ring was the carrot. But now, players can get the money without the misery somewhere else. When a starter leaves, it’s not because he can’t play; it’s because he doesn’t want to play here anymore.”

Fan Reaction: Denial and Anger

The reaction from the Georgia fanbase has been split. One faction argues that this is simply the new reality of college football—mercenary athletics where loyalty goes to the highest bidder. To them, Smart is blameless; he cannot control the whims of 21-year-olds chasing a check.

“Let him go,” wrote one popular fan account on X. “We want volunteers, not hostages. If you don’t want to be a Dawg, go be a Rebel. We’ll see you on the field.”

Another faction, however, is visibly shaken. They view this as a failure of relationship management. In their eyes, Smart’s “old school” approach may be alienating the modern athlete who values quality of life and “vibes” as much as development.

Smart’s Response: “We Schedule Them”

While Kirby Smart has not addressed this specific report directly, his past comments loom large over the situation. Smart has famously said of transfers, “We schedule them. The ones that want to leave… because they’re not physical, that means they’re probably going to a place that’s not physical. We like those places.”

That bravado will be put to the test in 2026. With Aguero now on the roster of an SEC rival that Georgia will face, the narrative is set. It will be “The Standard” versus “The Ex.”

The Verdict

The insider’s report serves as a sobering reality check. Georgia is still a powerhouse, and Kirby Smart is still an elite coach. But the days of blind loyalty are over. The program can no longer assume that a starting job is enough to keep a player happy.

For the first time, fans are forced to confront an uncomfortable truth: You can give a player everything—the coaching, the spotlight, the role—and he might still choose to leave. And if that can happen at Georgia, the impenetrable fortress Kirby built might have an unlocked back door.