Tag: smael mondon

Georgia LB will return for senior season

Georgia LB will return for senior season

Georgia football received some much needed good news on Friday. Junior linebacker Smael Mondon Jr. will return for his senior season, passing on a chance to enter the 2024 NFL draft, per On3 Sports’ Pete Nakos.

Mondon, a second-team All-SEC selection in 2023, was graded as a first-round pick by multiple draft analysts. ESPN’s Mel Kiper Jr. has Mondon rated as a top-five prospect at his position.

Mondon’s return is a big boost to a UGA linebacker room that has undergone major turnover since the SEC Championship loss to Alabama.

Preseason All-American selection Jamon Dumas-Johnson unexpectedly entered the transfer portal on Thursday, joining fellow linebackers Xavian Sorey Jr. and E.J. Lightsey.

Mondon’s return, paired with the late-season surge by freshmen C.J. Allen and Raylen Wilson, puts UGA’s inside linebacker room in a good spot ahead of the 2024 season.

 

 

 

 

 

Georgia’s Smael Mondon, Branson Robinson will be limited in fall camp

Kirby Smart gives injury updates at SEC Media Days

Georgia head coach Kirby Smart says Bulldogs linebacker Smael Mondon and running back Branson Robinson will be limited during fall camp due to injury.

“No, they won’t be full go,” Smart said on Tuesday at SEC Media Days. “I don’t know how long it will be, but they will not be full go on practice one. They’ll be able to run what we call dry landing running the next stage.”

Mondon finished as the team’s leading leading tackler last season despite missing two games due to injury. Robinson exceeded expectations in 2022 as a freshman when Kendall Milton went down with injury.

Smart said that both players dealt with their undisclosed injuries during spring practice and their recoveries may be ahead of schedule.

“They both had injuries in spring practice,” Smart said. Actually, if anything, they’ve done well. They’ve progressed well and probably moved up the timeline if anything, but we can’t judge until we get out there with them and put pads on.”

Georgia will open the 2023 season on Sept. 2 versus the University of Tennessee at Martin. Smart did not confirm if Mondon and Robinson will be ready for Week 1.

“Again, I don’t know,” Smart said. “I think that was the outlook a while back. I don’t know if that’s the outlook now.”

 

Georgia’s Smael Mondon talks freshmen LBs: ‘Everything you want in a linebacker’

Georgia has serious depth at ILB…

Georgia linebacker Smael Mondon is part of a talented group of inside linebackers in Athens.

The former five-star prospect helped revamp a defense that lost three players at the position to last year’s NFL draft, and finished first on the team in total tackles (76) in the 2022 national championship season as a first-year starter.

Mondon, a rising junior, recently spoke about the inside linebacker group highlighting some talented freshmen.

“Raylen and CJ — really all the freshmen, really — they’re all just like a really athletic group. They’re hard workers, strong, fast — really everything you want in a linebacker.”

Freshmen Raylen Wilson and C.J. Allen are among the top players signed to Georgia’s 2023 recruiting class, which finished second in the nation behind Alabama.

Wilson was rated as the No. 3 linebacker and Allen came in at No. 5, according to 247Sports.

Mondon noted the consistency of talent at the position since he joined the Bulldogs as a member of the 2021 recruiting class.

“Even when I first came in here, I feel like the linebacker room has always really been athletic with Quay, Channing and a lot of them guys that were here when I first got here versus now with me, Pop, Raylen, Sorey, all of them. I feel like we’ve always had an athletic linebacker room.”

Mondon enters his second season as a starter along side Jamon Dumas-Johnson, with Rian Davis, Xavian Sorey and EJ Lightsey as reserves.

Wilson, Allen and fellow freshman Troy Bowles, the No. 6 linebacker in the 2023 class, provide plenty of depth for the Bulldogs headed into the 2023 season.

You can catch the Dawgs in action during the annual ‘G-Day’ spring game scheduled for April 15 in Sanford Stadium.

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Georgia Bulldogs spring practice injury report

A long list of injuries for Georgia this spring

Coming off of their first national title since 1980, the Georgia Bulldogs will be returning many of the key players from their 2021 championship team.

However, several stars and incoming recruits are expected to miss significant time during spring practice due to injury. While this does not mean that these players will not be ready come September 3 for Georgia’s opener against Oregon, their recoveries will be closely monitored as the season approaches.

Georgia football player card: LB Smael Mondon Jr.

Georgia Bulldogs linebacker Smael Mondon Jr. enrolled early in Athens and participated in spring practice.

Smael Mondon Jr., Linebacker (No. 2):

Class: Freshman

Height: 6-3

Weight: 220 pounds

Hometown: Dallas, Georgia

High School: Paulding County High School

Georgia Bulldogs linebacker Smael Mondon Jr. enrolled early in Athens and participated in spring practice. The Paulding County product recorded five tackles in the G-Day spring game. Mondon Jr. comes to the University of Georgia as a decorated five-star recruit.

Mondon Jr. has good size, length, and speed. He is a tackling machine and could earn significant playing time as a freshman. He was all over the field during his days at Paulding County, where Mondon Jr. played wide receiver and running back in addition to linebacker.

Mondon Jr. projects to be a depth piece on Dan Lanning’s defense and a special teams player. Lanning’s defense rotates a high number of defenders every season, so there will be opportunity for Mondon Jr.; Georgia has a loaded linebackers room again.

The five-star recruit will compete with returning inside linebackers Quay Walker, Nakobe Dean, Trezmen Marshall, Rian Davis and Channing Tindall for playing time at the inside linebacker position.

The lengthy linebacker has some excellent high school football highlights:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hppb7dWT5uM

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Four 2021 UGA recruits end ranked as 5-stars

The Georgia Bulldogs have the No. 3 recruiting class in the country featuring four five-star recruits.

The Georgia Bulldogs have the No. 3 recruiting class in the country according to 247Sports. Georgia’s class of 2021 is a special group that features four five-star recruits: Amarius Mims, Smael Mondon, Nyland Green and Tyrion Ingram-Dawkins.

It touts the 14th-ranked recruit, massive offensive tackle Amarius Mims. Mims is an in-state recruit who played at Bleckley County High School. He has the talent to start right away, but Georgia is returning a lot of offensive line talent under Matt Luke.

Nyland Green, one of Georgia’s most recent additions to the class of 2021, finished the year rated as the No. 18 prospect in the country. Green will have a chance to play immediately because Georgia lost several cornerbacks this offseason.

Defensive tackle Tyrion Ingram-Dawkins is the top player from the state of South Carolina. The five-star recruit check in as the No. 19 player in the nation and the No. 2 defensive tackle. He dominated at Gaffney High School.

Lastly, five-star outside linebacker Smael Mondon is ranked as the No. 20 recruit in the country. Mondon is fast and versatile. The in-state prospect joins a loaded Georgia Bulldogs linebacker core.

Georgia quarterback signee Brock Vandagriff notably missed out on five-star status. He finishes the year rated as the No. 33 prospect and the top ranked four-star recruit. Most other services have Vandagriff ranked as a five-star, so this will give him motivation.

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5-star LB Smael Mondon signs with Georgia football

Five-star outside linebacker Smael Mondon Jr. out of Paulding County High School has signed with the University of Georgia Bulldogs.

Five-star outside linebacker Smael Mondon Jr. has signed with the University of Georgia football program. Mondon Jr. picked the Georgia Bulldogs over several SEC foes including LSU, Auburn, Tennessee and Florida.

The Paulding County High School linebacker plays football in Dallas, Georgia. Mondon ranks as the nation’s No. 29 overall player, the No. 2 outside linebacker and the No. 3 player in the state of Georgia, per 247Sports.

Kirby Smart and Georgia are securing the state’s top talent this year. The Dawgs have signed three out of four total in-state five-star recruits.

At six-foot-three and 220 pounds, Mondon will be a versatile linebacker in college football. He also plays running back in high school.

In addition to football, Mondon competed in the 100 meters, 200, long jump and triple jump for the Paulding County track team last year. He has solid speed, which is key for linebackers in modern college football. Sideline to sideline speed will help him cover running backs in the passing game, an immediate need for the Georgia Bulldog defense.

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Mondon, Xavian Sorey, and more will look to replace Monty Rice and several more linebackers on Georgia’s defense. Georgia offered Mondon back in 2019. This November, Mondon announced his commitment to the University of Georgia at his high school.

Now, the official Georgia Bulldogs Twitter account has announced his signing. Congratulations to Smael Mondon:

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Tennessee target, 5-star linebacker makes commitment decision

Tennessee target, 5-star linebacker makes commitment decision.

Smael Mondon Jr. is one of the most coveted defensive prospects in the 2021 class.

The linebacker prospect from Dallas, Georgia is a high priority for several schools, including Tennessee.

The Vols were included in Mondon’s top five schools, however the 5-star linebacker announced his commitment to Georgia.

Mondon is the No. 2 outside linebacker on the 247Sports Composite. He is listed as the No. 3 player in Georgia.

The Paulding County speedy prospect stands at 6-foot-3, 220 pounds.

Mondon is the third 5-star prospect committed to Georgia, along with Amarius Mims, another Tennessee target. The Bulldogs have the No. 5 2021 recruiting class.

Tennessee currently has the No. 11 recruiting class in the 2021 cycle.

Vols’ 2021 football commitment tracker

Georgia football lands another 5-star: LB Smael Mondon

Five-star outside linebacker Smael Mondon Jr. has committed to the University of Georgia.

Five-star outside linebacker Smael Mondon Jr. has committed to the University of Georgia football program. Mondon Jr. picked the Georgia Bulldogs over several SEC foes: LSU, Auburn, Tennessee and Florida.

The Paulding County High School linebacker plays football in Dallas, Georgia. Mondon ranks as the nation’s No. 27 overall player, the No. 2 outside linebacker and the No. 3 player in the state of Georgia, per 247Sports.

Kirby Smart and Georgia are securing the state’s top talent this year. The Dawgs have landed verbal commitments from all three of Georgia’s five-star recruits.

Georgia was viewed as the heavy favorite to land Mondon, so his commitment isn’t shocking.

At six-foot-three and 220 pounds, Mondon will be a versatile linebacker in college football. He also plays running back in high school.

In addition to football, Mondon competed in the 100 meters, 200, long jump and triple jump for the Paulding County track team last year. He has solid speed, which is key for linebackers in modern college football. Sideline to sideline speed will help him cover running backs in the passing game, an immediate need for the Georgia Bulldog defense.

Georgia offered Mondon back in 2019. Now, Mondon announced his commitment at his high school. Tweet per Matt DeBary of Dawg Post:

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5-star LB Smael Mondon, top UGA target, ready to make commitment

Five-star outside linebacker Smael Mondon Jr. is favored to commit to the University of Georgia.

Five-star outside linebacker Smael Mondon Jr. released his top five schools earlier this year and is now ready to make his commitment. Now, the elite in-state class of 2021 recruit will be make his commitment at 8:30 a.m. on Nov. 18.

Mondon Jr. will decide between LSU, Auburn, Georgia, Tennessee and Florida.

The Paulding County High School linebacker plays football in Dallas, Georgia. Mondon ranks as the nation’s No. 27 overall player, the No. 2 outside linebacker and the No. 3 player in the state of Georgia, per 247Sports.

Kirby Smart and Georgia are looking to secure the state’s top talent in the class of 2021. The Dawgs already landed the commitments from the top two Georgia prospects in the class.

Georgia is viewed as the heavy favorite to land Mondon; all nine crystal ball votes go to UGA on his 247Sports player profile page. 

At six-foot-three and 220 pounds, Mondon will likely be a versatile linebacker in college football. He also plays running back in high school.

In addition to football, Mondon competed in the 100 meters, 200, long jump and triple jump for the Paulding County track team last year. He has solid speed, which is key for linebackers who are expected to cover large areas of the field. Mondon’s speed may help him cover running backs in the passing game, an immediate need for the Georgia Bulldog defense.

Georgia offered Mondon back in 2019. He and the Georgia coaches met several times including two visits by coaches and one trip to Athens. Recruiting has been in a dead period since the onset of COVID-19.

Mondon announced his commitment date and time via his Twitter account:

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