Tag: georgia outside linebackers

Georgia football OLB Nolan Smith is returning

Georgia Bulldogs outside linebacker/defensive end Nolan Smith is returning for his senior season!

Georgia Bulldogs outside linebacker/defensive end Nolan Smith is returning for his senior season. Smith’s return is huge for the Georgia defense. Now, the Bulldogs will have a top pass rusher with several years of experience.

Nolan Smith has played in 38 career games. Smith has 8.5 sacks in his three year career with the Bulldogs. He recorded 3.5 sacks, 56 tackles, one interception, and three forced fumbles in 2021.

Smith will be a leader on Georgia’s defense in 2022. Smith came to Athens as an elite five-star recruit. He was the nation’s top prospect in the class of 2019 according to various recruiting sites.

Georgia Bulldogs linebacker Nolan Smith records a sack in the college football national championship game. Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

Smith played both defensive line and running back in high school. The Savannah, Georgia, product transferred to IMG Academy for his senior high school season.

The former five-star recruit is projected to start at outside linebacker for the Dawgs in 2022. Five-star outside linebacker Marvin Jones Jr. is expected to see immediate playing time as a freshman in 2022.

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Georgia football player card: LB Jamon Dumas-Johnson

Georgia Bulldogs linebacker Jamon Dumas-Johnson comes to Athens after being ranked as a four-star outside linebacker prospect

Jamon Dumas-Johnson, Linebacker (No. 10):

Class: Freshman

Height: 6-1

Weight: 235 pounds

Hometown: Hyattsville, Maryland

High School: St. Frances Academy

Georgia Bulldogs linebacker Jamon Dumas-Johnson comes to Athens after being ranked as a four-star outside linebacker prospect. Dumas-Johnson may project as more of an inside linebacker in Dan Lanning and Georgia’s defensive scheme.

Dumas-Johnson committed to UGA over schools like Auburn, Michigan, Florida, Maryland, Penn State, and Texas A&M. He was ranked as the No. 189 overall recruit in the class of 2021. Dumas-Johnson is widely regarded as one of the best linebackers in his class.

Jamon Dumas-Johnson and St. Frances Academy are featured on HBO’s β€œThe Cost of Winning” documentary. His speed and versatility will translate well to the college level.

Here’s a look back at when Dumas-Johnson committed to the University of Georgia:

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UGA football player card: LB MJ Sherman

Georgia Bulldogs linebacker Mekhail “MJ” Sherman came to Athens as a four-star recruit.

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MJ Sherman, Linebacker (No. 8):

Class: Freshman

Height: 6-2

Weight: 235 pounds

Hometown: Baltimore, Maryland

High School: St. John’s College

Georgia Bulldogs linebacker Mekhail “MJ” Sherman came to Athens as a four-star recruit. Sherman plays primarily outside linebacker, but is quite a versatile player. With his excellent size (six-foot-two and 235 pounds) and speed (4.5 forty yard dash) Sherman can play both inside and outside linebacker.

Sherman will be yet another versatile piece in Georgia’s stacked linebacker core. The Dawgs have Jermaine Johnson, Azeez Ojulari, Adam Anderson, Nolan Smith, Robert Beal, and more returning at outside linebacker.

Sherman tore his ACL during his junior season, but bounced back his senior year and had one of the best high school seasons of any outside linebacker in the country. He’s certainly got the talent to play as a true freshman.

Sherman has been training hard this offseason. He’s got NFL level talent.

Take a peak at Georgia’s impressive linebacker group:

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Georgia Bulldogs player card: OLB Walter Grant

Georgia Bulldogs outside linebacker/defensive end Walter Grant came to Athens as a four-star recruit

Walter Grant, Outside Linebacker (#13):

Class: Senior

Height: 6-4

Weight: 245 pounds

Hometown: Cairo, Georgia

High School: Cairo High School

Georgia Bulldogs outside linebacker/defensive end Walter Grant came to Athens as a four-star recruit. Grant has played in 41 games over his three season career at the University of Georgia.

Walter Grant has 37 tackles and 1.5 sacks throughout his career. He’s racked up 5.5 tackles for a loss as well.

Grant played running back and defense in high school for Cairo. He played running back during Georgia’s spring drills last season, but never played offense during a game.

Grant will be a part of Georgia’s stacked linebacker core. The Dawgs have Jermaine Johnson, Azeez Ojulari, Adam Anderson, Nolan Smith, Robert Beal, and more returning at outside linebacker. Grant is a key special teams player for the Bulldogs as well.

Oct 27, 2018; Jacksonville, FL, USA; Florida Gators running back Lamical Perine runs the ball against Georgia Bulldogs linebacker Walter Grant during the first half at TIAA Bank Field. Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports

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