Georgia’s Kirby Smart on hand for Cedar Grove satellite camp

Kirby Smart told reporters back in April that he had a plan ready in case satellite camps would move forward. On Thursday, he began the first step of that plan.

Smart was on hand for a camp hosted by Cedar Grove and held at Maynard Jackson. The first-year Georgia head coach was one of three FBS head coaches in attendance, as Michigan head coach Jim Harbaugh and Pittsburgh head coach Pat Narduzzi also showed up.

While Harbaugh first addressed the crowd prior to the start of the camp, he then invited Smart to share some thoughts.

“Big guys, small guys all have a role in this game,” Smart told the players. “We’re here to get you guys better. Happy as hell to be here.”

Smart wasn’t the only Georgia coach on hand. Defensive line coach Tracy Rocker and offensive line coach Sam Pittman also were present, with Pittman leading several of the offensive line drills during the course of the day. Georgia player relations coordinator Olten Downs also made the trip to Atlanta.

The Georgia presence at the camp was a sensible one considering the prospects in attendance, especially those with noted interest in the Bulldogs. Offensive lineman commit Netori Johnson participated in the day’s drills, as well as outside linebacker commit Jaden Hunter. Four-star cornerback Tre Shaw, who is being targeted by Georgia, was also there.

Smart watched players run cone drills at the beginning of the camp then worked his way across the field to watch the different drills being performed. He left in his helicopter about one hour before the camp ended to head back to Athens to attend the camp Georgia was hosting on campus.

Smart met briefly on the field with Harbaugh, who took the lead in running the camp and spoke several times to the large crowd of players. Harbaugh, who infamously called out “the Georgia coach” in a tweet on Feb. 24 concerning satellite camps, made it sound as if no hard feelings remain between the two.

“It was good,” Harbaugh said of his interactions with Smart. “All positive. All healthy and productive. We connected with the football world in a big way (Thursday).”

This story was originally published June 2, 2016 at 7:21 PM with the headline "Georgia’s Kirby Smart on hand for Cedar Grove satellite camp."