On Dec. 6, 2015, Kirby Smart was named the head football coach at the University of Georgia.
One day later, Smart was introduced in Athens. One week after being named, Smart received his first commitment from Richard LeCounte III, a touted safety prospect for the 2017 signing class who already has delivered for the newly crowned Southeastern Conference champions.
"This first year has been great," LeCounte said minutes after last Saturday's 28-7 win over Auburn in Atlanta clinched the program's first SEC title since 2005. "I expected to be in this position, and I expect to be in this position every year. The seniors have established the culture, and this is the way it's going to be.
"I definitely thought that this could be our year and that this is something we could do. Everybody has bought into what Coach Smart can do."
The 5-foot-10, 180-pounder from Riceboro, Ga., has played in 10 games this year for the No. 3 Bulldogs (12-1), who have a Rose Bowl date with No. 2 Oklahoma on New Year's Day. LeCounte, a Parade and USA Today All-American who 247Sports.com ranked last winter as the nation's No. 17 overall prospect, has tallied 15 tackles.
LeCounte's early commitment to Georgia resulted in an instant bond with Smart, who credited him for helping with an eventual signing class that 247Sports ranked No. 5 this past winter behind Alabama, Ohio State, Michigan and Southern California.
"I had to put the reins on Richard and some other guys, because I think they thought they could recruit everybody in the country," a smiling Smart said in February. "We've got a limited number of spots. Those guys are pretty aggressive."
Georgia had six early enrollees this year, topped by LeCounte and Warner Robins quarterback Jake Fromm, who ranks sixth nationally in passing efficiency and this week was named SEC freshman of the year by the league's coaches.
LeCounte's aggressive style was on display in spring practice but apparently was quite unbridled, as Smart used the expression "rat trap" to describe LeCounte's ability to cover the field but not always knowing what to do. Still, Smart was in constant appreciation of his effort.
"He's a see-ball, hit-ball guy," Smart said in the spring. "I love coaching him."
There was no easing into this season for LeCounte, who collected five tackles in the opening victory over Appalachian State and made his lone start the following week at Notre Dame. In last weekend's SEC championship game, LeCounte was in on the first possession of the game, which resulted in a 6-yard Auburn touchdown pass from Jarrett Stidham to Nate Craig-Myers.
"We came to the sideline and regrouped," LeCounte said. "We kept our composure, and we just came together. We knew that we needed to settle down and that it was a long game."
Georgia held Auburn to 259 yards just three weeks after the Bulldogs had allowed 488 in a 40-17 loss to the Tigers in Jordan-Hare Stadium.
"That was definitely personal," LeCounte said. "Our defense is known for being physical, and the guys that we put out there are the most physical people on the field. It just felt different.
"Those were still two great teams out there competing, and Auburn gave it all they had, but we just had too much for them."
LeCounte has played this year in a secondary that has been overflowing in experience with the likes of seniors Aaron Davis, Malkom Parrish and Dominick Sanders, as well as junior Deandre Baker. There are 2018 NFL draft projections listing Baker as a mid-round selection should he decide to forgo his senior season, but his return would result in an enhanced leadership role along with current redshirt sophomore J.R. Reed.
There is no doubt the role soon will change for LeCounte as well.
"I plan on being a leader in this situation," he said. "We're going to soak in everything that those guys gave us, and everything I got from them I plan on carrying it over to these next years."
Assistants in demand
Smart was asked Thursday night at a news conference for the College Football Playoff about the possibility of some of his assistant coaches leaving for other jobs. Receivers coach James Coley has been mentioned as Texas A&M's new offensive coordinator under Jimbo Fisher, while outside linebackers coach Kevin Sherrer has been mentioned as a possibility for Jeremy Pruitt's defensive coordinator at Tennessee.
"It's an honor any time your assistants get an opportunity to advance themselves," Smart said. "I learned that from none other than (Alabama coach) Nick (Saban). When you get an opportunity for somebody to go on and increase their role and get a promotion, I think that's a great honor. It's an honor to your staff and to the success you've had at your program, and I hope that all our guys get that opportunity.
"I think the timing with the early signing period makes this a very unique set of circumstances. You guys have asked a thousand times about the early signing period and how it's going to affect this and that, and I think it's really unique that now we're coming up on things that we weren't quite aware of. We've got official visits next weekend, but we've got to practice also for our bowl game. We've never had to do that."
Contact David Paschall at dpaschall@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6524.