Georgia guard Solomon Kindley doesn’t want to hear about spring break. He embodies the grind that it takes to become a high-level player.
Over the past few years, I’ve had the pleasure of helping to develop young athletes at my training facility, Boost Sports Performance. I’m seeing a trend from today’s athletes: Spring break may mean you’re not on campus, but it doesn’t mean you stop working, stop trying to improve, stop pursuing the end goal.
Kindley is a Jacksonville native who will be a third-year sophomore this fall. He started seven games for the Bulldogs last season, when they fell one win short of the national title. Kindley has no problem working instead of lounging during spring break.
“As I see it, I grind right now, I can have fun later,” Kindley said. “If I just keep working hard, come home for spring break – don’t go nowhere – just keep working, keep working. Eventually, I get to the (NFL)… then I can have fun. Right now, it’s a business. I’m trying to get to the (NFL), first round.”
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For a big guy – Georgia lists him at 6 feet 4 and 335 pounds – he is extremely athletic; he’s also driven. In our college-group workouts, we’ve had palyers from a variety of top schools. Kindley stood out not just because of his size but also because of his focus during the workouts. He cracks jokes, he smiles – but only after he gets done with the drill. That’s the right way.
That’s also to be expected from a guy on a Kirby Smart-coached team. Smart was a graduate assistant at FSU during my time as a Seminoles player. In 2002, I remember Smart flying around, having fun. But he was about working and having those he oversaw working as well.
Kindley has a chip on his shoulder. Talking with him about the 2017, in which he won some freshman All-America honors, his main goal with coming home to train was to become more explosive and help overcome injury.
As an overlooked three-star prospect in a world where Georgia is pulling the best talent from everywhere – particularly along the offensive line – Kindley knows he must improve to stay on the field.
“Last year was good, but I promise this year’s going to be even better,” Kindley said. “I’m going to work even harder, I’m not going to stop working, and that position – right guard – is going to be mine for the whole season.”
“Georgia fans can rely on me. Our running backs can rely on me.”
Kindley knows he can’t afford to rest on his laurels because the Bulldogs have guys coming in every year to take his spot, most of whom are more accomplished and ballyhooed on paper. Consider: Georgia signed two of the nation’s top three guard guards in the 2018 recruiting class, and Kindley needs to work to stay ahead of them on the depth chart.
Kindley wants the starting job; he also wants to be the best guard in the SEC.
Article Originally Appeared on Gridiron Now: http://gridironnow.com/solomon-kindley-right-guard-position-is-mine-whole-season/
