Last week in a surprising move, Georgia linebacker Jermaine Johnson, who is second on the team in sacks in 2020 with five, entered the Transfer Portal.
On Saturday, the senior announced that he is headed to Florida State.
Let’s Ride👿 #Tribe21 #KeepCLIMBing #NoleFam pic.twitter.com/wGbN9tPyiF
— Jermaine Johnson II (@ii_jermaine) December 26, 2020
Johnson, from Eden Prairie, Minnesota, played for Last Chance U’s Independence Community College before transferring to Georgia in 2019 as the No. 1 rated JUCO prospect in the nation.
After playing in 14 games in 2019, totaling 20 tackles, three tackles for loss and 3.5 sacks, Johnson broke out for the Bulldogs in just seven games played this season, racking up 16 tackles, five tackles for loss and 5 sacks.
Johnson is allowed another year of eligibility because of the NCAA’s extension of student-athlete eligibility for the 2020-2021 season due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The decision to transfer was unexpected because of Georgia’s linebacker depth chart projections for 2021.
Team sack-leader and Bednarick Award semi-finalist Azeez Ojulari has been projected as a first-round pick in some NFL mock drafts and early reports say the redshirt sophomore will indeed enter the 2021 draft, seemingly leaving a big spot to fill, which most believed Johnson would take over next season.
Not to say that Georgia does not have pass-rushers to step up after the departure of Ojulari and now Johnson, because it does.
Sophomore Nolan Smith is a former 5-star recruit who can dominate games at times and explosive junior Adam Anderson ranks third on the team in sacks in 2020 with 4.5.
Joining them will be a loaded 2021 recruiting class from the linebacker position, featuring 4-star Chaz Chambliss and 5-star Xavian Sorey. Both guys can play multiple positions and should get meaningful reps with the gaps left by Ojulari and Johnson.