Georgia head coach Kirby Smart confirmed on Monday that outside linebackers’ coach Kevin Sherrer will remain with the Bulldogs through the College Football Playoffs.

 

Sherrer is expected to serve as the defensive coordinator for the University of Tennessee’s new head coach, Jeremy Pruitt. The Volunteers hired Pruitt to replace Butch Jones back on December 7th.

“Kevin, when he got the opportunity he got, which I’m really proud of him and his opportunity, first thing he said, he wanted to finish outright, and we want him to,” said Coach Smart. “So he’s done a tremendous job with our outside linebacker group, and he always has. It’s important for us to be at our best in this College Football Playoff. If it wasn’t important to have him, why would we have him here all year? So he’s been here.”

Kirby continued to praise his assistant coach on the job he’s done with the outside linebacker group and his growth as a football coach. Senior outside linebackers Davin Bellamy and Lorenzo Carter have both been coached by Sherrer there entire collegiate career at Georgia. Bellamy has amassed 130 total tackles in his four years including 22.5 tackles for a loss and 11.5 QB sacks while Lo Carter has racked up 152 total tackles including 13.5 for a loss and 13.5 QB sacks.

“He’s helped these guys develop, helped the young players develop,” said Smart. “I’ve got a lot of respect for Kevin and watched him go through the high school ranks. Watched him do it at Alabama. Watched him do it at South Alabama. So I’m excited for his opportunity.”

Sherrer has been pulling double duty as he was up in Knoxville this past weekend to help Tennessee with their prospects taking official visits, but Smart noted that his focus will be on the UGA football team and getting his players ready to play Oklahoma in the Rose Bowl and finish out the College Football Playoffs from here on out.

“He did finish up at Tennessee on their official visit weekend,” said Kirby. “So he wasn’t here for a couple practices. But he’s here today, and he’ll be here the rest of the way through the bowl prep.”

Double duty is not unfamiliar to Coach Smart as also finished up his duties at Alabama during the 2015 season through the College Football Playoffs and the National Championship game after UGA hired him to replace Mark Richt in December of that year. Jeremy Pruitt is also pulling double duty taking on his responsibilities as the Volunteers new head coach while remaining with the Crimson Tide through the College Football Playoffs.

Kevin Sherrer has been with the University of Georgia football program for the past four years, since 2014, when he was brought on to the Bulldogs’ staff under former head coach Mark Richt and defensive coordinator Jeremy Pruitt. He was of one of two coaches from the former staff that remained when Kirby Smart was hired as UGA’s head coach.

Kirby Smart’s comments on Kevin Sherrer are approximately at the 4:48 mark of his full press conference. Click on play to listen.

 
 
[pt_view id=”83405b425p”]