In a surprising turn of events, college football officials Oscar Delp, Mikel Williams, and Dylan Bell have publicly criticized Georgia head coach Kirby Smart for choosing Alabama quarterback Jalen Milroe as his favorite player. The comments, made during an interview earlier this week, have sparked a significant backlash from both fans and analysts alike. According to Delp, Williams, and Bell, Smart’s decision is not only misguided but also inconsistent with the expectations placed on top-tier college coaches when it comes to leadership and player selection.
Delp, Williams, and Bell, who are all players with strong reputations within college football, emphasized that the decision reflects poorly on Smart’s judgment and undermines his role as a leader of his team. They argued that while Milroe has shown promise as a quarterback, especially in his performances with Alabama, the choice to publicly declare him as his favorite player sends the wrong message to both his own players and the broader college football community.
One of the core criticisms from these officials centers on the idea of favoritism and the implications it can have within a locker room. “As a head coach, your responsibility is to remain impartial and to focus on fostering team unity,” said Mikel Williams, a defensive standout known for his leadership on and off the field. “When a coach singles out one player, especially one from another program, it creates division. It’s about building trust within your own team, not sending the message that other players outside your program are more deserving of attention.”
Oscar Delp, a key player for the Georgia Bulldogs, echoed this sentiment, emphasizing that players within a program need to feel valued and respected by their coach. “A great coach doesn’t elevate one player over the rest,” Delp stated. “It’s about instilling a sense of fairness and equality. I’m all for recognizing talent, but making a public declaration like this is just sending the wrong message to your guys.”
Dylan Bell, another rising star in college football, added that a head coach’s decision can shape the perception of a program both internally and externally. “If Kirby Smart wants to be seen as a leader who makes sound decisions, this was a misstep. Coaches are expected to elevate their own players and create an environment where everyone feels they have an equal opportunity.”
The controversy also touches on the nature of leadership within college football. For many players, coaches are more than just strategists—they are mentors, role models, and figures who shape the overall culture of a team. Leadership is not just about drawing up plays or executing strategies; it’s about guiding players to become the best versions of themselves, both on and off the field.
Critics have pointed out that Smart’s decision may reflect poorly on his approach to team cohesion and leadership. Some have even speculated that the choice of Milroe as his favorite player could stem from an underlying personal connection or a strategic attempt to leverage Milroe’s star power. However, regardless of the reasons behind it, the choice to publicly endorse a player from another program has ignited debates about what it means to be an effective leader in the competitive world of college football.
In the end, Delp, Williams, and Bell have made their concerns known, urging Kirby Smart to reconsider the implications of his choice and to focus on reinforcing the values of teamwork, equality, and fair leadership within his own ranks. Their criticism serves as a reminder that in the world of college football, decisions made by head coaches extend beyond the field—they have the power to shape the culture of the entire program.
