The Georgia linebacking corps grew a lot in 2023 with CJ Allen and Raylen Wilson getting a good amount of snaps as freshmen, while veterans Smael Mondon and Jalon Walker continued to groom their skills while Mykel Williams worked his way into some snaps there as well as on the defensive line.
It’s a position group expected to step up into the limelight in 2024 with the preseason No. 1-ranked Bulldogs primed to make a championship run against a difficult schedule DawgNation took a closer look at the position in this preview.
Mike Griffith
I like that Jalon Walker can do so many different things. I think he’s very important. I think he’s a game-changing player. He’s got good instincts. He’s very good against the run and also decent in pass coverage.
Kaylee Mansell
True sophomore CJ Allen. There’s a reason that Jamon Dumas-Johnson left, a veteran with tons of experience, because he knew that CJ Allen was coming back. To be able to start games as a true freshman at the linebacker position shows how far along you are in the game.
Jeff Sentell
I think (Mykel Williams is) a guy that can hit the double-digit sack total for Georgia, but more importantly than the sacks in the Kirby Smart scheme is he’s going to have to have to affect the quarterback, affect launch points, hurry-up deliveries, hurry up decisions, which will allow those secondary members to pounce on some ill-timed bad decisions from quarterbacks.
Connor Riley
Where Georgia plays Jalon Walker this season is going to be a fascinating story to watch. He’s already proven he’s one of Georgia’s best pass rushers as he led the team in sacks. But his long-term future is best at inside linebacker.
