ESPN identifies former five-star as Georgia breakout player
Georgia is being looked to as one of the top teams in the country for the talent that returns, but the Bulldogs have plenty of players with potential to breakout too. ESPN took a look around the country and gave their picks recently for the players you should watch to break out on top 25 teams, identifying former five-star linebacker Raylen Wilson as their choice out of Athens.
Wilson was the nation’s No. 4 linebacker in the Class of 2023 and the No. 29 overall player according to the Industry Ranking. On3’s in-house rankings had him even higher, putting Wilson as the top ranked player at the position and No. 18 overall.
As a freshman in 2023, the Tallahassee, Fla. native played in all but one game for the Bulldogs, making one start while recording a total of 15 tackles. He contributed to a sack in a win over Kentucky on his way to being named to the SEC All-Freshman team.
“With former starting inside linebacker Jamon Dumas-Johnson transferring to Kentucky, the Bulldogs are looking for someone to start next to Smael Mondon Jr. in the middle of their defense. After a knee injury that he suffered in preseason camp in 2023, sophomore Raylen Wilson showed flashes of why he was one of the most coveted linebacker prospects in the country as a senior at Lincoln High School in Tallahassee, Florida,” ESPN’s Mark Schlabach wrote. “Wilson was named to the SEC All-Freshman team after totaling 15 tackles and a half-sack in 12 games. He was one of the fastest runners in the state in the 100-meter dash and was once clocked at 24 mph on GPS.”
Georgia loses Jamon Dumas-Johnson on the inside at linebacker, and while Smael Mondon returns, there’s absolutely a need for more to emerge in the middle of the Bulldog defense. Kirby Smart, Glenn Schumann and company will be looking the way of Wilson along with CJ Allen, his fellow 2023 signee that started in the absence of Dumas-Johnson late in the season.
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“They approach their preparation the right way. They didn’t start preparing differently when they got opportunities to play. They prepared that way really starting in spring ball when they got here, going back to bowl prep last year when they were able to come in early,” Schumann said about Allen and Wilson ahead of the Orange Bowl. “So I think that’s ultimately the mark of a young player that is able to help you. A lot of times it’s relative to their maturity level and how they prepare because nobody gets to Georgia without ability.”
“They’re here for a reason. They’re really mature. They go about their business the right way,” he continued. “I know that when you have faith in how people prepare and do things, in addition to their ability, you know that they’re going to constantly improve. They’ve improved throughout the year. There’s nothing that beats experience. Sometimes they’ve learned from mistakes. Sometimes they’ve gained confidence through plays they’ve made. I’ve really seen really solid growth the last couple of weeks. I’m looking forward to watching them play.”
Wilson will have an opportunity ahed of him this spring with Mondon sidelined due to a foot injury. He’ll be back for the fall, but the extra reps certainly won’t hurt in his development towards being a breakout player in 2024.
