Kirby Smart talks about the impact of Chidera Uzo-Diribe on Georgia program, defense

The Georgia Bulldogs added former Colorado star Chidera Uzo-Diribe to Kirby Smart’s coaching staff in February, hiring him as the team’s outside linebackers coach. Even though Uzo-Diribe has only been with Georgia for a couple of months, Smart has already seen the impact he’s had on the Bulldogs program.

“Yeah Chidera gives us great energy, enthusiasm,” Smart said. “Played the position. Easy to recruit outside backers, defensive ends at the University of Georgia because we’ve produced a lot of them, but it’s also easy to recruit to him because he played the position with tremendous success. Had a stint in the NFL, he’s got a really good track record. high character, very enthusiastic, and we’ve seen the impact on our players with what he’s done.”

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Prior to coming to Georgia, Uzo-Diribe had stints on the staffs at TCU, SMU, and Kansas, and Colorado. In his playing career at Colorado, Uzo-Diribe totaled 112 tackles, 30.5 tackles for loss, 19.5 sacks, and nine forced fumbles. He then signed with the New Orleans Saints for a short stint as an undrafted free agent.

Uzo-Diribe can help solidify Georgia’s defense

Georgia is undergoing a lot of changes, especially on the defensive side of the ball. The Bulldogs had a historically dominant defense last season, but now a solid portion of that group has entered the 2022 NFL Draft. At linebacker, Georgia has lost Quay Walker, Channing Tindall, Nakobe Dean, and others. Uzo-Diribe’s experience could prove to be valuable to the Georgia defense as it looks for new players to step up to fill those holes.

“We’re just really young,” said Smart. “We don’t – you say stand out- there’s nobody that stands out, not compared to what just left that room. Nobody like that. There’s guys filling a role, there’s a difference. There’s a standard at Georgia when you play inside ‘backer and outside ‘backer. We’re probably not playing to that standard right now.

“But it’s not because they’re not trying hard enough and not because they’re not talented enough. It’s because they don’t have the experience and the reps. We’re catching up on that everyday as fast as we can. (Xavian) Sorey’s taken a lot of reps and he’s got a long way to go. Jalon Walker’s taken a lot of reps and he’s got a long way to go.”

Even though Georgia’s defense will have some new faces, it should remain strong next season, and part of that is due to the addition of Uzo-Diribe to the coaching staff.