Georgia sophomore linebackers have strong on-field chemistry on top of friendship off of it

Entering the season, one of the biggest question marks for the Georgia Bulldogs was the off-ball linebacker position. Kirby Smart, Glenn Schumann, and the rest of the Bulldogs had recruited the position well over the past few years, but it was certainly a challenge to replace the production and talent of Nakobe Dean, Quay Walker, and Channing Tindall.

Fortunately for everybody involved, sophomore linebackers Jamon Dumas-Johnson and Smael Mondon have taken their opportunities and run with it, combining for 106 tackles so far on the season (Dumas-Johnson with 54, Mondon with 52). While all Georgia fans know about the competitive nature of the Bulldogs’ football team, both linebackers were quick to compliment the other when given the opportunity.

A couple weeks ago, Mondon recalled the moment last season in practice that he knew that Dumas-Johnson would be an up and coming stud for the Bulldogs.

“The first time I really noticed him, I think it was one of his first seven-on-sevens during the summer when he got here, he caught a pick, and then I was just like, ‘I don’t know, I never caught a pick in practice at that point,’ so when I see him catch a pick as a freshman, I was just like, ‘That’s good,'” Mondon said. “From there on, I just kept seeing flashes of him, caught a pick in a scrimmage. I think it was our first scrimmage or — second scrimmage during the fall camp of our freshman year. So he did that and then he’s just been flashing ever since and then now he’s the player he is now.”

Earlier this season against the Missouri Tigers, Mondon suffered a minor hamstring injury, one that sidelined him for part of the game in Columbia and the entire next two games versus Auburn and Vanderbilt. According to Dumas-Johnson, the time on the sideline not only allowed him to flip a switch to get back on the field, but he has used the setback to propel his game forward.

“Ever since Smael has been back, he’s just been putting on a show, doing what he does best,” Dumas-Johnson said. “Run, cover, hit, everything, everything you could want in a linebacker, that’s what Smael is. Relentless, physical, smart, fast, big.”

‘Relentless, physical, smart, fast, big’ are words that can be used to describe both of the sophomore linebackers, but that alone is not what makes the duo so lethal. While Dumas-Johnson and Mondon have only started for a combined 20 games, they share a unique relationship that allows the tandem to succeed.

“Well, even before the season when we were both starting, we had a pretty close relationship,” Mondon said. “So I wouldn’t say it was starting that really did anything to the relationship. We’ve still been pretty close, just as close as we’ve always been. As far as that chemistry on the field, we’re playing together a lot more, so it’ll be times I’ll know what he wants to do and he knows I want to do, without us even saying anything. And then we’re just like — I know what he’s comfortable with and he knows what I’m comfortable with. So we just like basically bounce off each other.”

“Like he said before, we know what each other is comfortable without even having to talk or say anything like that,” Dumas-Johnson added. “So I give him that look, he gives me that look, I know whether he wants to do it or not want to do it. Like, who’s better for that position, that job, right then and there, we’ll send each other over there. So that’s how understanding we are with each other right now.”

Dumas-Johnson and Mondon aren’t just a great pairing on the field. Off the field their friendship is strong. The two room together and will be spending Thanksgiving together in Mondon’s hometown of Dallas, Ga.

“They’ve (Dumas-Johnson and Mondon) done a good job. They need more depth in there,” Smart said, pleased with their performance but knowing that the Bulldogs can’t rely on just those two. “Trezmen [Marshall] and Rian [Davis] being back has really been a huge help to Jamon Dumas-Johnson [Pop] and Smael [Mondon] because you can’t really play two inside linebackers and get through a game, you got to have three or four to rotate. It’s like half defensive line, half defensive back. They got to have some rest and some recovery, and those guys have stepped up and helped them a lot. E.J. [Lightsey] is getting better, Jalon Walker is getting better. Coach Glenn Schumann does a great job with that room, he prepares them from day one. They’ve done really well considering who they had to replace.”

Georgia hosts Georgia Tech this Saturday for the regular season finale at Sanford Stadium. Kickoff time is slated for 12:00 p.m. ET on ESPN.