University of Georgia officials are investigating audio posted to YouTube over the weekend that purports to be Valdosta High School football coach Rush Propst discussing six-figure payments he alleges the university’s donors made to recruits to get them to sign with the Bulldogs.
During the nearly 15 minutes of audio, Propst alleges that UGA coach Kirby Smart is aware of boosters making payments up to $150,000 to recruits to secure their signing.
“You know how much money they spend on a player they’re getting?,” Propst asked a person that was said to be Michael “Nub” Nelson, who served as executive director of the Valdosta Touchdown Club. “Some are 90 to 100 thousand dollars to sign….$90,000 to $150,000 to sign.”
In the video, Propst mentions 1980 national championship offensive lineman Hugh Nall who denied any knowledge of the matter.
"I don't know anything about all that stuff," Nall, a former Auburn assistant, said Monday when the Athens Banner-Herald reached him by phone. "I've been in touch with officials and been interviewed at Georgia. I have nothing to say on that."
Propst also claimed that former Bulldog running back Nick Chubb received $180,000 for his commitment.
“It was three $60,000 donations he was given to Chubbs (sic) to stay in school,” Propst said. “It was $180,000 for him to have for him to not go declare for the draft. That’s what Kirby does. Who did he learn that from?”
Chubb has denied the allegations.
Propst said Nall, who lives in Albany is the “handler” for Kirby.
“[Nall is] the handler, OK? Kirby’s come down and met with the richest of the rich in Southwest Georgia, not Southeast, not Macon, Southwest where he’s from,” Propst says in the video. “He’s got the richest guy in Bainbridge, he’s got the two richest guys in Colquitt. He’s got a rich guy over here in Valdosta. Anybody that’s a Georgia boy.”
