Marvin Jones Jr. potential exciting even with missed spring
Georgia outside linebacker Marvin Jones Jr. is going to miss spring after a surgery to repair a torn labrum in his shoulder. While it’s no doubt unfortunate news for him coming out of his freshman season and headed into his first spring, Jones is hoping he can still take steps this offseason to develop his game and take on a bigger role for the Bulldogs in 2023.
Nolan Smith and Robert Beal are off to the NFL after successful careers in Athens. Smith could possibly be taken in the first round of this year’s NFL Draft while Beal is often forgotten as the sack leader on Georgia’s dominant 2021 defense. MJ Sherman transferred out, leaving Chaz Chambliss as the oldest in the room. And while he’s got more experience that Jones, it’s the former five-star that’s got folks most excited for the season to come.
“I would definitely say my physicality. In high school, I’m from Florida so the run wasn’t always something we thought about,” Jones told DawgsHQ when asked about the biggest area of growth for him during his first season at Georgia. “You get to Georgia and that’s something you learn quick. Definitely my physicality.”
Jones got a taste of what it was like to play a big role this season. After Smith suffered a season ending injury in October, Jones saw a jump in the number of snaps he was getting. His highest snap count came in one of Georgia’s biggest games of the season against Tennessee – the outing immediately after Smith’s injury – and he was credited with a tackle the week after at Mississippi State. Then, in the regular season finale versus Georgia Tech, Jones came up with a sack of quarterback Zack Gibson, helping the Bulldogs beat the Yellow Jackets 37-14 to close out a second straight undefeated regular season on their way to back-to-back national titles.
“I wouldn’t say it was an exciting feeling. We work so hard during the summer and stuff, so it sucked to see Nolan go down, especially in his senior year, but I was prepared for it,” Jones said. “I’ve always been told to be ready. I wasn’t excited, I was just ready.”
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“I may have felt like that when I first got to Georgia, but as the season went along I never felt like if I was put in a game I couldn’t do it,” he continued. “I always felt like once I got my shot, I could do what I’m able to do.”
Jones should have more opportunities in 2023 to show what it is he’s able to do, even with the injury keeping him out of spring. Last year Smael Mondon missed spring practice with the same setback but stepped in as a sophomore to start the opener and led the team in tackles. Jones certainly is hoping to have a similar kind of impact in his second year.
“My strength in the run game has to improve in order to play all three downs next year. That’s the biggest thing I have to fix,” Jones said. “I think my pass rush and my ability to drop as well, I’m athletic enough to do both so that’s a big thing I can bring to the table.”
