Georgia inside linebackers still set to largely define success of co-DC Glenn Schumann

Georgia assistant coach Glenn Schumann is entering his first season as the Bulldogs’ co-defensive coordinator. Up to this point, he’s made his name with the inside linebackers. This season might be a similar story for Schumann. Even though his role is expanded, the success could largely be defined by how well the inside linebackers do their job.

Schumann and company are tasked with replacing the production of a trio of linebackers selected in the first three rounds of the 2022 NFL Draft. Nakobe Dean was the Butkus Award winner. Quay Walker was the highest drafted of them. And Channing Tindall did it all for the Dawgs. Still, Schumann, the position coach of the group, isn’t asking those that remain to be Dean, Walker or Tindall. He wants them to be themselves.

“You never ask somebody to replace somebody else. You ask them to be the best version of themselves,” Schumann said. “That’s what counts now is going out there every day seeking excellence and challenging yourself to be the best version of yourself. The people in that room are doing that every day. I am thankful that we are healthy and guys are pushing each other. The one thing in the standard that we set in those guys and the guys before them is that everybody is competing together. It’s about the team, it’s about each other, and these guys embrace that as well. I am excited to see where we go.”

Jamon Dumas-Johnson has largely been considered the top option among the inside linebackers headed into 2022. He made plays when he was on the field last year, including a highlight reel pick-six on the first drive of his collegiate career against UAB. From there, he played in every game, primarily on special teams, totaling 22 stops along with 2.0 quarterback sacks, 2.5 tackles for loss and two quarterback pressures. He tied for the team-high in tackles in the late-season blowout of FCS opponent Charleston Southern with stop stops. A couple weeks before he had five tackles including a sack in an SEC win over Missouri. He also had a sack as one of his four tackles in the rivalry win at Georgia Tech to end the regular season, two stops in wins over Arkansas and Auburn and a single tackle against both Kentucky and Florida. Dumas-Johnson added a pass breakup in the win over the Gators too.

“I think he’s challenged himself. He knows in the summer you attack strength and conditioning to be able to say, ‘Hey I might have an increased role this year. What do I have to do in terms of my strength and conditioning to do whatever role is asked of me?'” Schumann said of Dumas-Johnson. “He loves football. He practices really hard. He’s an instinctive, physical player, but (we) need to continue to see him grow.”

“Everybody needs to grow,” Schumann continued. “It’s day six of practice, but I’ve seen him (Dumas-Johnson) try to step up and actually challenge… Whether that’s him or Trezmen Marshall, Rian Davis or Smael Mondon. All of those guys… the whole room understands what’s expected in terms of running the defense. There’s a level of pressure that applies to you and they are all trying to answer it.”

Speaking of those other inside linebackers – Trezmen Marshall, Rian Davis and Smael Mondon – this isn’t the first time that we’ve heard about them. Georgia head coach Kirby Smart and fellow players praised Mondon’s athletic ability. Meanwhile, Marshall and Davis have the respect of everybody in the building for sticking with it through injury after injury.

“I am really excited for those guys. They are guys that have battled it out throughout their careers. They’ve had some hardships and they have remained positive, they have remained focused and determined,” Schumann said. “To see them out there competing is awesome for me as a coach because you respect what they have done. If they continue to do that, I am hopeful for them.”

Dumas-Johnson, Davis, Marshall and Mondon aren’t the only options at linebacker, but they might be the best. That’s what Georgia’s trying to figure out in fall camp ahead of the season-opener against Oregon. And just like his first six years with the program, the success of the inside linebackers could go a long way towards determining how Glenn Schumann is seen as a co-coordinator by season’s end.