The one name that spread absolute horror to Kirby Smart‘s arrayed 2025 dream is his offensive coordinator Mike Bobo. Bobo became the OC in 2023, and that season went extremely well. However, this past season, as mentioned, did not go as planned. Bobo’s inconsistency in terms of quality play-calling impacted the Dawgs. The last loss in the Sugar Bowl against Notre Dame put that issue on sharper focus with fans vehemently falling a fire. But that won’t be the case given Bobo gets a new contract extension under his belt, semi-securing his job up to 2026. What did the Georgia head coach have to say about it?
ESPN‘s Paul Finebaum didn’t sugarcoat his words when talking about Mike Bobo and Georgia HC Kirby Smart, saying that Smart has unnecessarily been patient with his OC. Blaming him for some crucial past season blows, Finebaum said he doesn’t feel great about Georgia. Like they are still in a potential playoff picture for the upcoming year. But a national championship? Nope, still seems a far-fetched dream for the Dawgs with Bobo getting some more years sanctioned under his new contract.
On July 1, Bobo’s new contract clause will offer him a sharp hike from $100k to $1.503 million. In 2026, it will straightaway jump to $1.603 million, as reported by the Athens Banner-Herald’s Marc Weiszer. But did you also scratch your head wondering why exactly Smart ignored all the fans’ sentiments and the veterans’ red flags? Well, it’s simply his way or the highway instinct. “I’ve got a lot of confidence in this organization, the foundation we’ve built,” Smart said. “I’ve got the best staff in the country, and I have no doubt about that. I’ve got one of the most experienced SEC staffs there is, and to be honest with you, there’s a lot of confidence in that, and I have a lot of confidence in it.”
Kirby Smart knew there would be questions about keeping Mike Bobo and Stacy Searels.
Smart was ready with an answer.
“I’ve got a lot of confidence in this organization, the foundation we’ve built. I’ve got the best staff in the country, and I have no doubt about that.”…
— DawgNation (@DawgNation) March 11, 2025
However, despite Smart’s steady confidence in Bobo, he might not be able to bear many errors and losses in 2025. The competition is red hot in the SEC, and long gone are the days when an elite program like Georgia could only be satisfied with an SEC championship. The bar is now no less than a natty. If Bobo continues to be in the pivot of consistent Georgia downfall, it won’t be a surprise for Smart to run out of patience. With the contract clause being easily breakable, 2025 seems to be the do-or-die year for the highly debated Georgia OC.
If you want to calm the tension down by addressing Bobo’s long-standing Gunner Stockton connection, there is a potential bump, too. Despite Bobo being a childhood coach to Stockton, there is no guarantee that the OC-QB duo will work out well. But what can really work well for the new QB1 is a relaxing update on WR Colbie Young.
Colbie Young’s latest update brings relief to Georgia’s offense and Gunner Stockton
Perhaps the most horrible inconsistency was seen at the wide receiver position. And the Bulldogs didn’t have their most talented wideout, Colbie Young, for the majority of the season due to suspension. Young (6-foot-3, 215 pounds) kick-started his career in the JUCO ranks at Lackawanna College before transferring to Miami in 2022. After spending two impactful seasons in Miami, the kid brought his gift to Athens. But in 2024, he was more than challenged with an unexpected mid-year slump.
The four-star transfer started off on a good note, catching a touchdown pass in each of the first two games. But as he gears up for the sixth game, he was taken into police custody with the misdemeanor charges of assault on an unborn child and battery in an incident with a female who described herself to police as an ex-girlfriend. However, despite being released later on bond, he had been carrying a suspension until now.
“Colbie’s with us,” Smart said in a press conference during the Spring practice this week. “Colbie’s going to be practicing with us. He’s cleared, so he’s practicing. He’s been working out with us.” Young had 11 catches for 149 yards and 2 touchdowns in five games for Georgia last season after totaling 79 catches for 930 yards and 10 touchdowns in two seasons. Certainly, he can prove to be a big support for Gunner Stockton amidst the growing uncertainty! We will see how Colbie will support the new QB phenom in the mix and the overall Georgia offense.
The post Kirby Smart Breaks Silence on $1.5M Mike Bobo Future as Gunner Stockton Receives 1,079-Yard News appeared first on EssentiallySports.