Georgia transfer Jamon Dumas-Johnson shows love for UGA in NFL Draft declaration

Not all transfers are created equal. Yes, there are some situations in which it’s a sad product of the combination of portal and NIL, but others simply are for the betterment of the individual. That seemed to be the case with linebacker Jamon Dumas-Johnson who left Georgia after three seasons with the Bulldogs for Kentucky.

A two-year starter in Athens before spending his senior season in Lexington, Dumas-Johnson declared for the NFL Draft on Wednesday. In doing so, he shared his appreciation for Georgia.

“To the University of Georgia and Bulldog Nation, thank you for always showing up and showing out. You all truly showed why you all are one of the best fanbases in the country,” Dumas-Johnson wrote. “Thank you for your love and support. Sanford was truly a special place to play under any circumstances because of you all. Thank you for an unbelievable experience. Thank you for letting me know what it feels like to win and become a two-time national champion. This will always be home.”

“I’d like to thank the Georgia coaching staff for giving me the best possible foundation,” he continued. “My work ethic and understanding of the game would not be the same without the leadership of Coach Smart and Coach Schu. To every player that I had the opportunity to call my brother, thank you for the bonds on and off the field and challenging me and helping me to not only become a better athlete but also a better man. I will cherish all the memories we had together. To the rest of the staff from the coaches to the tutors and custodial staff. I want to say thank you. Believe it or not, you all had an impact on me during this journey in some way, shape or form. Thank you Ms. Collier for showing me love since day one. I’m thankful for the bond we shared during my time at the G and even after. I truly believe you’re the best at what you do.”

Dumas-Johnson started games for Georgia during both the 2022 and 2023 seasons. Helping the Bulldogs replace the likes of Nakobe Dean, Quay Walker and Channing Tindall, Dumas-Johnson was on the field first in all 15 games during UGA’s perfect, National Championship-winning season in 2022 before starting the first nine games in 2023. A forearm injury ended his season early.

Dumas-Johnson was a finalist for the Butkus Award in 2022 and considered one of the favorites to potentially win it in 2023, being named to numerous All-American teams in the preseason. He finished second to Smael Mondon in tackles in 2022 with 70 total stops including a team-high 9.0 tackles for loss. Then, in 2023, he had 34 prior to injury with one of his best career performances with seven tackles – just one shy of a career-high – in three quarters of action against Missouri. It was against the Tigers he last saw the field in red and black.

“I love Pop. I mean, I wish him the best,” Georgia defensive coordinator and inside linebackers coach Glenn Schumann shared about Dumas-Johnson after he entered the portal. “Obviously I care about him, and anytime you care about somebody and you have a time that you’re no longer with each other, then that’s what’s best for him in this case. He’s excited, and I’ll wish him the best from that standpoint.”

Georgia’s linebacker room without Dumas-Johnson did just fine, and the two parties going their separate ways probably was for the best. In his absence at the end of the 2023 season, freshmen CJ Allen and Raylen Wilson emerged as youngsters that needed more playing time. Mondon announced a return and there was also the dynamic Jalon Walker, who won the Butkus Award for the nation’s top linebacker and earned several All-American honors this season. Georgia also signed a pair of five-star linebackers and two of the two of the top three players at the position in the Class of 2024 to be freshmen the following fall: Justin Williams and Chris Cole. Simply put, there was too much talent with more eligibility remaining than Dumas-Johnson to promise him significant playing time.

Ahead of Georgia’s matchup with Kentucky this season, head coach Kirby Smart shared that it was an emotional separation between Dumas-Johnson and the Bulldogs. After UGA escaped Lexington with a win over the Wildcats, Dumas-Johnson could be seen on the field in tears while talking to Smart, Schumann and his former teammates.

“I love those kids. Those kids were tremendous for our program. I mean, we probably don’t win two national championships back-to-back without those two guys,” Smart said after the game, speaking on both Dumas-Johnson and quarterback Brock Vandagriff, also a transfer to Kentucky in 2024. ” … Pop and I had a great relationship, and we were fiery with each other at times, but he was also a tremendous leader, and I just respect Pop.”

Some team going to be very lucky to have a special person and player on their team soon!! ❤️❤️❤️ @JamonJohnsonn https://t.co/u4hPlJ3bIr

— Glenn Schumann (@CoachSchuUGA) December 18, 2024

Dumas-Johnson also thanked Kentucky, doing so in a much shorter manner than he did Georgia, for the single season he had with the Wildcats. In 11 games, Dumas-Johnson totaled a team-high 67 tackles with 7.0 for loss including 3.5 sacks.

“To the University of Kentucky and the coaching staff, thank you for the opportunity, welcoming me with open arms, and believing in me,” he wrote to Big Blue Nation.

Dumas-Johnson is not listed among the top-10 off-ball linebackers in the 2025 NFL Draft according to ESPN’s Mel Kiper with Wyatt Brooks of NFLDraftBuzz.com ranking him No. 18 for players at his position (No. 202 overall) with a sixth-round grade. Brooks shared the following scouting report on him…

“Dumas-Johnson projects as a high-floor prospect with the potential to be an immediate contributor in the NFL. His combination of size, instincts, and physicality make him an ideal fit for teams employing a 3-4 defensive scheme or those valuing downhill, thumping inside linebackers. While he may not have the elite athleticism to be a top-10 pick, Dumas-Johnson’s production against top-tier SEC competition and championship pedigree will certainly appeal to pro scouts. In the NFL, Dumas-Johnson should excel as a run-stopper and short-area defender. His ability to quickly diagnose plays and attack gaps will make him a valuable asset on early downs. Additionally, his blitzing prowess adds an element of pass-rush potential that coordinators can exploit in sub-packages. To maximize his effectiveness, Dumas-Johnson would benefit from playing alongside a more athletic, coverage-oriented linebacker who can complement his strengths.”