Kirby Smart’s Georgia is going through a major coaching shakeup this offseason. His defensive staff was already thin after analyst Will Muschamp went to Texas. Now, Smart is on the verge of losing his outside linebackers coach to the NFL, who developed defensive tackle Jalen Carter and sent him in the first round and 9th overall in 2023 to the Philadelphia Eagles.

“The [Cowboys] are expected to hire Georgia’s Chidera Uzo-Diribe as outside linebackers coach,” CBS Sports reporter Matt Zenitz said on X. “Uzo-Diribe, who has been considered a top rising star in the college coaching space, had worked under Kirby Smart at Georgia since 2022. Now headed to Dallas.”

The expected move to Dallas comes as new defensive coordinator Christian Parker begins to assemble his staff, signaling a new direction for the Cowboys’ defense. They are very keen on bringing in Uzo-Diribe and his experience as an analyst to their $12.5 billion franchise.

This would be a major blow for Kirby Smart’s program, as Uzo-Diribe was a key piece of their defensive unit.. He didn’t just develop players, but also played a major role in Georgia’s 15-0 season and 2022 national championship, as their defense finished 1st in rushing defense, 5th in scoring defense, and 9th in total defense nationally.

On top of that, let’s not forget he forged a defense that produced two All-Americans in Jalen Carter and DB Chris Smith. Even his recruiting trail was pretty strong. Back in 2023, Uzo-Diribe helped Georgia sign the nation’s No. 2 class for the 2023 cycle, bringing in players like edge Damon Wilson, who ranked no. 20 overall as per On3.

Uzo-Diribe’s rising stock is built on a track record of success across multiple programs. Before arriving in Georgia in 2022, he honed his skills as a defensive line coach at TCU and SMU, where his units were highly productive. His knack for developing talent is evident, having coached All-American Conference honoree Elijah Chatman and sack leader DeVere Levelston.

Now you know why the Dallas Cowboys are showing interest in hiring him. A move to the NFL would be a major boost to Uzo-Diribe’s coaching profile, placing him in the national spotlight.  Additionally, Dallas’s interest is also fueled by their 4-3 defense, which relies on four DL and three linebackers, and under new DC Christian Parker, the team is expected to switch to a 3-4 defense, putting more responsibility on the outside linebacker. This is Uzo-Diribe’s expertise. So, it makes the push even more evident.

While Smart’s staff faces a potential shakeup, the recruiting machine in Athens doesn’t stop. The Bulldogs are already in a heated battle for one of the nation’s top prospects.

Kirby Smart makes a major recruiting move

Kirby Smart’s team is persistently pursuing five-star linebacker Cooper Witten, despite Oklahoma turning out to be the favorite. Knowing his father Jason Witten’s legacy, many expect him to go to Norman, but that’s not stopping Smart from making the move.

Witten recently visited both Athens and Norman, which is a trip his mother, Michelle Witten, shared on social media, too. Earlier, he also posted a picture with Georgia’s defensive coordinator, Glenn Schumann, showing their heavy interest in him.

The intense interest from both programs makes sense, as Witten is considered the top linebacker in the country and a top-25 recruit nationally. He currently holds 29 scholarship offers, but for now, all signs point to Oklahoma. As Smart navigates losing key coaching talent, his ability to win high-stakes recruiting battles like the one for Witten will be more critical than ever for maintaining Georgia’s championship standard.