Smart Weighs Player Motivation in NIL Era

Georgia coach Kirby Smart discusses how recruiting and player motivations shape programs as name, image and likeness earnings grow.

Updated on Nov. 3, 2026 in Football

Smart Weighs Player Motivation in NIL Era

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Georgia head coach Kirby Smart discussed player motivations and recruiting in the NIL era. He said the earning power players have while in college is their own to pursue, and that recruiting the right players is key to a program's success.

Why it matters

As NIL valuations climb, coaches must evaluate what drives recruits during the decision-making process. Smart's comments highlight how the financial landscape of college sports has changed from his own playing days.

Georgia's Gunner Stockton carries a $2 million NIL value, while Miami's Darian Mensah, who transferred from Duke after leading the Blue Devils to a 2025 ACC Championship, is valued at $6.5 million. Smart said he once took a $5,000 summer job because players were not paid when he played.

The players

Kirby Smart

Smart is the head football coach at Georgia, who previously spent time on Nick Saban's staff at Alabama.

Darian Mensah

Mensah is a Miami quarterback who transferred from Duke after leading the Blue Devils to a 2025 ACC Championship.

Gunner Stockton

Stockton is Georgia's quarterback and the team's highest-paid player by NIL value.

The details

Smart said his staff evaluates recruits' motivations during the recruiting and decision-making process. He noted that he previously worked on Nick Saban's staff at Alabama and cited example post-college salaries of $60,000 to $70,000.

2025: Darian Mensah led Duke to an ACC Championship.
November 3, 2026: Smart's views on recruiting were published.

Season Trajectory

Smart's comments reflect a shift from the pre-NIL era he experienced at Alabama under Nick Saban, when he took a $5,000 summer job because players went unpaid. Recruiting motivations now sit alongside significant NIL valuations, altering how programs such as Georgia compete for talent.

Fantasy managers tracking Georgia's quarterback Gunner Stockton or Miami's Darian Mensah should note the NIL valuations cited here, though they do not directly affect on-field production. Recruiting shifts driven by player motivation may influence roster depth in coming seasons.

The takeaway

Recruits weigh NIL earnings alongside program fit, so schools that understand player motivation are better positioned to build winning rosters. Coaches who evaluate what drives each recruit can translate financial opportunity into long-term program success.