Kirby Smart details decision for offensive line to honor Devin Willock
The shadow of the car crash that killed Georgia offensive lineman Devin Willock and staffer Chandler LeCroy hung over the Bulldogs the entire offseason. It’s a loss that Kirby Smart and his team are still feeling and led to the offensive line honoring Willock in the season opener.
To honor Willock, each Georgia offensive lineman will rotate wearing his No. 77 jersey throughout the season. That honor is going to go to the player who earned the honor in practice that week.
Following Georgia’s Week 1 win against UT Martin, Smart explained what went into this decision.
“We talked about it as a staff and a team with the players and what they wanted to do,” Kirby Smart said. “The offensive line felt very strongly about it and Coach [Stacy] Searels kind of made the decision to trust who’s really close to Devin that he would honor him and allow him to play in that jersey.”
Xavier Truss wore 77 against UT Martin. He earned the honor in practice and depending on how practice goes this week, it could likely be someone else. For players looking for the opportunity to honor their friend and teammate, it’s great motivation.
This wasn’t the first time Georgia has honored Devin Willock. In the Spring Game, the Red Team took a purposeful delay of game penalty to open things up in honor of him. At the time, it was a reminder that the loss was still fresh for this team.
As Kirby Smart has explained in the past, honoring Devin Willock is ongoing.
“I think that’s something we talk to the players about a lot. We’ve got a leadership group that has a lot to do with that and imports knowledge to us. We talked about that during the spring game and got an opportunity during the spring game. Started on the first play, things like that,” Smart said.
“That’s something that’s ongoing and something we talk to those guys about.”
Kirby Smart reflected on emotions of Devin Willock car crash after national championship
Over the summer, Kirby Smart reflected on his emotions regarding the Devin Willock car crash, explaining that this kind of loss is incredibly hard for him.
“And I think to that moment of loss and getting that phone call at 2, 3 in the morning just how tragic an accident it was. And you almost can’t believe it’s real. And then the next moment you’re in the emergency room and you’re in there with seven, eight of your players as the word spreads and everybody’s just so sad,” Smart said.
“I always tell the story about a young man at Alabama that’s the only player I’ve been a part of that we lost, tragically, to a drug overdose over spring break. We always try to tell the story to say ‘Just be careful when you’re not with us.’ Hardest moments I’ve ever been through as a coach. You just dread ever getting a call like that.”