ESPN’s Max Olson and Eli Lederman released a list of the top 100 newcomers in college football ($) on Monday.
Kentucky transfer Jamon Dumas-Johnson made the list and was ranked the No. 23 best overall transfer from the portal. While not a newcomer to college football, Dumas-Johnson is entering his first season in the Wildcats’ program after spending parts of three seasons with Georgia.
Per ESPN’s ranking of Dumas-Johnson:
“”Pop” Dumas-Johnson earned first-team All-America honors as a sophomore on Georgia’s absolutely loaded 2022 defense that won the national championship. He was a 24-game starter at linebacker for Kirby Smart and produced 126 tackles, 17 TFLs and 9.5 sacks. Players with those achievements rarely end up in the portal, but Kentucky is glad he became available. Dumas-Johnson has made a big impression on his new coaches as an ideal replacement for third-round NFL pick Trevin Wallace.”
Dumas-Johnson was a beast in the Bulldogs’ linebacking corps, starting all nine games he played in last year before suffering a season-ending forearm injury in Georgia’s 30-21 win over Missouri on Nov. 4 at Faurot Field.
A native of Baltimore, Dumas-Johnson recorded 34 total tackles (29 solo), 5.5 tackles for loss and 3.5 sacks a season ago. In three years in Athens, he racked up 83 solo tackles, 17 tackles for loss, 9.5 sacks, a forced fumble and an interception return for touchdown. In 2022, he started all 15 games during the Bulldogs’ 15-0 national championship season.
Earlier this month, Dumas-Johnson was named to the Comeback Player of the Year Award watch list by College Sports Communicators in association with The Associated Press (AP) and the Fiesta Bowl Organization.
He was also named to the 2024 Preseason Media Days All-Southeastern Conference teams. ESPN ranked Dumas-Johnson the No. 113 overall player in college football entering the 2024 season.
Kentucky opens the season against Southern Miss in prime time Saturday at Kroger Field (7:45 p.m. ET, SEC Network).