ATHENS — Kirby Smart’s hiring of former Florida defensive backs coach Charlton Warren led to some playful, prideful — and harmless — social media banter from players Saturday night.

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The Gators are Georgia’s fiercest annual rival and currently biggest threat, and a couple of their players made it clear they plan to continue to contend even without the celebrated Warren.

Florida defensive backs Trey Dean and Marco Wilson tweeted in response to the announcement that Smart had hired Warren: “Lol okay just don’t coach the best corners in the country.”

Bulldogs cornerback Eric Stokes, one of the fastest rising stars in the SEC, appeared to tweet in response: “Oh they BIG mad.”

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Dean is from Hampton, Ga., and was recruited and offered by Georgia.

Wilson is a former teammate of UGA cornerback Tyson Campbell at American Heritage in Plantation, Fla., so there’s no doubt there’s plenty of familiarity between the players.

It was a fun and healthy exchange that seemed to get many fans on both sides fired up for a rivalry that appears set to determine the SEC East Division winner for a least a couple more years.

Tennessee is a growing threat to re-emerge with AD Phillip Fulmer orchestrating splashy coaching hires in Jim Chaney and Tee Martin, and former Bulldogs’ DC and Vols head coach Jeremy Pruitt digging deep for players in Georgia.

Missouri, of course, has proven itself a potential wild card with back-to-back appearances in the SEC Championship Game in 2013-2014 and another competitive team last season.

But the SEC East road to Atlanta figures to continue to go through Jacksonville, Fla. — at least for now.

Oh they BIG mad 😂🤭 — Eric Stokes Jr (@_jamane_) January 20, 2019

Lol okay just don’t coach the best corners in the country 🤣🤷🏽‍♂️ — Trey Dean (@__TD3) January 19, 2019