Smart earns Sporting News' coach of the year award

For guiding his team to the College Football Playoff in only his second season with the program, Sporting News named Georgia's Kirby Smart its college football coach of the year.

Smart led the Bulldogs to a 12-1 record and No. 3 ranking in the final College Football Playoff poll. Georgia will face No. 2 Oklahoma in the Rose Bowl in the semifinal round.

Smart's turnaround came just one year after an 8-5 inaugural campaign. Smart was hired to replace former head coach Mark Richt, who was dismissed after a 15-year run at Georgia.

This follows Smart earning SEC coach of the year honors by both the league office and the AP.

With a 28-7 win over Auburn on Dec. 2 in Atlanta, Smart led Georgia to its first SEC championship since 2005. The Bulldogs became the first SEC East team to win the conference since Florida did in 2008. While most of Georgia's wins were in blowout fashion, Smart's team squeaked out a 20-19 win over Notre Dame in the second week of the season.

Following Georgia's one loss, a 40-17 drubbing at Auburn, Smart coached his team to three consecutive wins, including the rematch victory over the Tigers.

Smart wasn't the only Bulldog to be notified of an accolade Monday. Georgia inside linebacker Roquan Smith was named to the AP All-America first team. Smith, who was named SEC Championship MVP and received this year's Butkus Award as the nation's top linebacker, has totaled 113 total tackles, 10.5 tackles for loss and 5.5 sacks. He finished 10th in Heisman Trophy voting.

Left tackle Isaiah Wynn earned a nod on the AP All-America second team. Wynn helped pave the way for 263.5 rushing yards per game, which ranks second in the SEC and 11th nationally. Wynn has also been a valuable part of an offensive line that has only allowed 16 sacks.

Also of note, ESPN named quarterback Jake Fromm and right tackle Andrew Thomas to its freshman All-America team. In his first season on campus, Fromm has completed 63 percent of his passes for 2,173 yards, 21 touchdowns and five interceptions.

This story was originally published December 11, 2017 at 5:48 PM with the headline "Smart earns Sporting News' coach of the year award."