Kirby Smart sends clear message to NIL check-cashers about skipping Georgia

The Georgia Bulldogs are in the midst of Spring Ball in Athens. While the routine has become second nature for Kirby Smart, there are changes happening around college football with a much different landscape.

This current NIL era has pushed big business and record revenue from being under the table and into the mainstream. This isn't the same game compared to five years ago, and Smart has taken his time to safeguard from those who aren't willing to come in and work.

College football's highest-paid coach set the record straight with On3's Chris Low this week. Smart talked about the state of his Bulldogs' program and was clear about his expectations.

"If you’re coming here for a paycheck, then you’re coming to the wrong place,” Smart told Low. “To me, it’s more what you value. Do you value really hard work, and do you want kids to come into your organization and want to work their way up and buy into that they’re working their way up? Or do you want to throw some gaudy numbers out there to high school freshmen and maybe that freshman never realizes how good he can be because he got so much money in the beginning? We’re trying to motivate them to get the next check, the next level.”

As some teams around the nation are hitting $40 million, and in some cases $50 million, Smart doesn't want that to be the focus of why players are at Georgia. The money is tempting, but the right situation will outweigh a temporary payday.

Smart also isn't "pocket watching" other programs because it's not his job and doesn't play into the circumstances set in front of him.

More: Indiana Football's terrible decision sparks buzz before NFL Draft

“To me, 28 million and 40 million are not the same,” Smart said. “Now, if you count 28 to 40 million as everybody’s paying the same there at the top, then that’s probably true if you’re in the game to win the game.

"But it’s like four or five years ago, everybody was like, ‘Ooh, this team is at 20 million,’ and then it was like, ‘Ooh, Ohio State won it all, and they were supposedly at 30 million,’ and none of this is substantiated. You only know what you pay. Nobody’s truly willing to say what they’re really paying.”

Georgia has been one of the most successful teams in the College Football Playoff era and part of the field four of the past five years. Smart has had it all at Georgia and is looking to get back into the National Championship game. This year features one of the most experienced UGA teams in recent years ready to compete.

More college football news: 

• Jordon Hudson turns heads with 'barely there' rope dress at Maine charity event
• USC asked Heisman winner to unretire jersey several times: 'Absolutely f-ing not'
• Deion Sanders buyout, contract details as Colorado Buffaloes coach
• Steve Sarkisian blasts Ohio State players for not going to class
• Ohio State's Ryan Day faces backlash after NFL Combine