ATHENS — CJ Allen and Raylen Wilson entered fall camp ahead of schedule. We weren’t supposed to know how good they were entering the 2024 season.
But injuries to Smael Mondon and Jamon Dumas-Johnson a year ago forced the freshman duo onto the field. In hindsight, Kirby Smart recognizes the two weren’t fully ready for what was asked of them. Freshman linebackers, even those as talented as Allen and Wilson, aren’t supposed to step in and effortlessly replace all-conference players.
“They’ve been thrust into the limelight and had to play earlier — probably before they were ready, to be honest,” Smart said on Tuesday. “You grow up when you have to do that. I think you forget sometimes, like, what year they are. It happens to me all the time.
“I think Raylen and CJ are experienced vets on our team because they’re in the upper echelon of playtime and upper echelon in terms of years here.”
Allen and Wilson started the last game of the 2023 season together as Smael Mondon was dealing with a foot injury. The duo could once again start together to open the 2024 season, as Mondon is still working his way back from a foot injury and dealing with the possibility of a suspension.
But Allen and Wilson, now with another full offseason under their belts, are much more prepared than they were a season ago.
“CJ and Raylen, they really benefited from this spring, having the opportunity to take over heightened leadership roles and in bowl prep,” Georgia defensive coordinator Glenn Schumann said. “They’ve only grown from that. I think you’ve seen increased confidence in them. Those guys are really mature beyond their years in terms of how they prepare. They’ve been growing every day, and I’m excited about how they’re going to play this year.”
Allen and Wilson aren’t the oldest players in the inside linebacker room. Mondon is back as a senior for Georgia, while the Bulldogs have also had Jalon Walker rep at inside linebacker as well. Walker though is seen more as a hybrid linebacker, as he’ll play at both inside linebacker and outside linebacker.
Part of the reason for that is because of his ability to rush the passer. But it also speaks to how good Allen and Wilson already are for the Bulldogs at playing inside linebacker. That’s before even mentioning fellow 2023 signee Troy Bowles, or any of the three highly talented freshman linebackers Georgia signed in the 2024 cycle.
Even with Mondon’s uncertainty, there’s little worry about the state of Georgia’s inside linebacker room. A big reason why is because of the continued development of both Allen and Wilson.
“They’re picking things up too. They’re starting to recognize things more on offense,” tight end Oscar Delp said. “They’re playing fast and making plays. They’re not scared to stick their face in there. They’re going to be two really good guys to help us this year. They’re making us better every day too, just how fast they react to things and how well they disguise things.”
Walker compared the two being brothers. The duo is always mentioned in tandem. Allen is viewed as the more cerebral of the two, while Wilson is more of a bull-in-the-china-shop destroyer. Allen was the more accomplished of the two statistically, totaling 41 tackles, 2.5 tackles for loss and a sack. Wilson had 15 tackles and 0.5 sack, but he missed time early in the 2023 season due to a knee injury.
The two complement each other in the center of Georgia’s defense. They’ve grown together this offseason, hoping to put the loss and performance against Alabama behind them.
Now, as sophomores and leaders, they’re ready to take the next step in Georgia’s defense. And unlike the 2023 season, the two seem ready for what comes next.
“They’ve grown tremendously throughout the spring and I can’t wait to watch them throughout the season,” Walker said. “I feel like we’ve taken great strides in the inside backer room of focusing and honing in on our details throughout the spring and fall camp.”
