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MJ Sherman enters transfer portal, leaving Georgia after three seasons

Palmber-Thombsby:Palmer Thombs•01/13/23•

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MJ Sherman (1)
Tony Walsh / UGA Sports Communications

After three seasons at Georgia, MJ Sherman has decided his time in Athens is done. The former five-star outside linebacker officially entered his name into the transfer portal on Friday, less than a week removed from the Bulldogs’ 65-7 National Championship Game victory over TCU. On3’s Matt Zenitz was the first to report.

Sherman was already in the news this week some, sending a since-deleted, enigmatic tweet Monday night after the game. His family quickly came to his support though, making it known on his behalf that MJ had no intentions of leaving Georgia. However, things clearly have changed in the time since, leading to this decision.

In three seasons at Georgia, Sherman totaled 15 tackles with just one for loss and half a sack. When the Bulldogs were down pass rushers this season with Nolan Smith sidelined due to injury and both Robert Beal and Chaz Chambliss banged up as well, Sherman didn’t really seem to be given much consideration. Freshmen Marvin Jones Jr. and Jalon Walker were asked to take on bigger roles instead. Both will be back next season – as will Chambliss – and Georgia adds to its room a trio of On3 Consensus top-100 pass rushers with 2023 signees Damon Wilson, Samuel M’Pemba and Gabriel Harris.

Sherman leaves Georgia having made an impact though. Media members will remember his entertaining interview this fall as he shared on his family history and Liberian roots. And while he might not have been a standout on the field, his teammates tell tales of him being a leader off of it. Defensive MVP of the National Championship Game Javon Bullard shared this story about Sherman on Tuesday, the morning after the title game.

“I know as far as defense perspectives you’ve just got to do your job. Not – just allowing yourself to do too much. You don’t have to be a superstar. This is a help-me, help-you defense,” Bullard said. “… Selflessness is the team DNA. It’s one of our DNA traits. We’ve got so many selfless guys in the locker room and Sherman came up to us, and he gave us a speech last night. And it really touched me because he was, like, ‘Even if you’re not getting in the game we still need you.’ He was, like, ‘We still need you. We need your motivation on the sidelines. Don’t hold your head low. We still need that motivation. We’re playing in a national championship. If one person gets a sack the whole team gets a sack.’ That whole selflessness is really what this team is made of.”

Sherman is the eight Georgia player so far to enter the transfer portal joining Bill Norton, Arik Gilbert, Brett Seither, Jaheim Singletary, Ryland Goede, Jacob Hood and Trezmen Marshall.

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