Joenel Aguero injury rumor: Kirby Smart sets record straight on 'misinformation'

Throughout head coach Kirby Smart‘s time at Georgia, the Bulldogs have been known for their elite defenses. A key position on those defenses, in that time, has become what’s known as the star position.

Going into the 2025 season, Joenel Aguero is expected to be Georgia’s primary star defender. However, injury rumors recently popped up around him, making for some concern. Luckily, Kirby Smart was able to set the record straight and counter those rumors during the weekly SEC Teleconference.

“No,” Kirby Smart said. “I guess you’re referring to some misinformation that came out or whatever from last night. But Joenel [Aguero] is the star. He’s fine. Completely healthy. Ready to go. Looking forward to him continue to grow and get better.”

Joenel Aguero came to Georgia as a four-star recruit in the Class of 2023. He was the 47th-ranked player nationally and the third-ranked safety in that recruiting class. Since getting to Georgia, he’s become a key defensive back for the Bulldogs, playing in 24 games and making 33 tackles with a pass defended through his first two college seasons.

The star position is a defensive back position that Kirby Smart likes to use in nickel formations. It acts as a kind of hybrid between safety and corner, making it vital, especially against pass-heavy offenses. Along with Joenel Aguero, the Bulldogs have several players working at that spot going into the 2025 season.

“We can have Jaden [Harris] works at star,” Smart added. “[Rasean Dinkins] works at star. Couple of our safeties work at star as well.

Kirby Smart reveals benefits of Georgia being a young team

Georgia is coming into the season as a young team. So, injuries could take a toll as their experience and depth get tested. It’s an easy reason to be concerned. At the same time, Kirby Smart does believe there’s benefits in having a young team.

“Energy. Enthusiasm. Non-complacency. That’s not to label old teams as that, but you don’t have that problem with young teams,” Smart said.

“Relentless effort, connection, rewarding a teammate, hand on a helmet, body language. It’s more than just how you play. It’s what you do between the snaps… I don’t know if it was lacking in previous years. I just know that we want it, [it’s] more rewarding. We’ve always had some form of it, but it’s the analogy of small campfires. We can have all these little small campfires, or you can have a burning inferno. We want a burning inferno. We want all of these campfires to come together and be 11 burning fires — not a couple of burning bushes over here.”

Kirby Smart and the Bulldogs open the season on August 30th by hosting Marshall. That’s going to be a game where they’ll need to hit the ground running before a very difficult SEC schedule begins.