Blutarsky points to a Chip Towers’ post gathering the reaction of recruits to Georgia’s use of Branden Smith. When you add that kind of element to a team, you tend to find your way on the field quickly. If Smith’s jaw-dropping speed on his reverse did anything, it was to instantly answer the question “why the heck to they keep trotting him back out there?” Now we know.

Be sure to read the excerpt Blutarsky has up about how Smith was greeted when he got back to the bench after his costly fumble. It got Smith pumped up to make a big play when he saw the field again, but it also had an impact on a VIP recruit watching from the sideline.

Khairi Fortt is one of the nation’s top linebacker recruits and was on his official visit. UGASports.com has a great two-part interview with him following the visit, and he had this to say about Smith:

“I liked the fact that there was a freshman player on Saturday in Smith that fumbled the ball on the kickoff return. Normally you do something like that you get down on yourself, and you start thinking that coach is going to bench you. But actually Coach Richt put him back in there on offense, and he scored on a 61-yard reverse, and he also put him back out there on kickoff return. I liked the fact that he had faith in his players, even true freshman. At other schools if you make a mistake it cost you playing time,” said Fortt.