When Nolan Smith last publicly spoke before the 2022 NAtional Championship Game, he talked about leaving a legacy. Something he could point back to and one day show his future children about his time in Athens.

“You’ll be a Georgia legend no matter if you’re from inside the state of Georgia or outside of Georgia, you’re going to be Georgia legend,” Smith, a Savannah, Ga., native, said. “We came in to be legendary, be special, leave your mark. Like I say, I want to bring my kid back and tell him this is what I did.

“I want to leave my mark. I don’t just want to be another University of Georgia player.”

In some ways, that is already done. Smith sacked Bryce Young on the final play of the game, putting a final touch on Georgia’s 33-18 win over the Crimson Tide. Were he to head on to the NFL, no one could fault him as he played an integral role on Georgia’s first championship team since 1980.

But Smith’s work at Georgia is not done. Not in his view anyway. It’s why he’s returning to Georgia for his senior season, as he announced on Monday.

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