Georgia may not have had a player selected in the first round of the 2017 NFL draft. The Bulldogs' head coach, however, helped recruit and develop four players who heard their names called during the draft’s opening night.
Alabama, where Georgia head coach Kirby Smart was an assistant from 2007-15, saw cornerback Marlon Humphrey (15th overall, Baltimore Ravens), defensive lineman Jonathan Allen (16th overall, Washington Redskins), tight end O.J. Howard (19th overall, Tampa Bay Buccaneers) and linebacker Reuben Foster (31st overall, San Francisco 49ers) all represent the Crimson Tide in the first round.
While Smart coached Humphrey, Allen and Foster on the defensive side of the ball, Smart was Howard’s primary recruiter out of high school and a big reason why the star tight end chose Alabama.