Smael Mondon looking to make a move at linebacker using athletic ability
The Georgia Bulldogs lose three linebackers from last year’s team to the NFL. That’s made the position one to watch in fall camp, which opened yesterday. And while Jamon Dumas-Johnson seemed like the most probable player to step up this spring, Georgia has at least one other option in Smael Mondon.
The former five-star linebacker from Dallas, Ga. played in all 15 games for the Bulldogs last season, primarily on special teams and as a reserve, finishing with 12 stops including a season-high four tackles with a quarterback sack and a tackle in kickoff coverage in Georgia’s win over Charleston Southern. But with Nakobe Dean, Channing Tindall and Quay Walker all gone, Mondon – and others – certainly seems to be in a position to receive more reps in 2022.
“I’m excited about the guys that we have at inside backer. I was excited about those guys last year. They didn’t get an opportunity to flash and show their talents because of the three guys we had,” Georgia head coach Kirby Smart said in his opening press conference of fall camp on Thursday. “Smael Mondon is as good an athlete as I’ve seen. He has to increase his physicality, his toughness. He missed spring because of a shoulder surgery. But he’s put on some good, solid weight. Played a lot of snaps on special teams. Core linebackers get valuable experience on special teams before they’re the featured guy. So both those two guys (Mondon and Dumas-Johnson) got a lot of experience.”
Georgia players have noticed the linebackers too. Christopher Smith, who plays behind them at safety, said that Mondon is similar to the guys that are gone in style. That’s a credit to inside linebackers coach Glenn Schumann.
“He’s (Mondon) very prototypical of the guys that Coach Schumann likes, very sideline to sideline kind of guy, very smart, very strong and can pick up on the playbook very well. I agree with Coach Smart. Definitely physically gifted,” Smith said. “I’ve seen plenty of times where Smael’s coming, I’ll be running and Smael will fly across my face and make a play. It’s pretty consistent with Channing, Quay, Nakobe, Jamon. All those guys can do those things.”
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The same goes for the Bulldog offensive players that have to line up opposite of Mondon on a daily basis. Tight end Darnell Washington described his position group as a “mismatch,” but it sounds like Mondon gives them as tough of a matchup as possible.
“They’re all pretty impressive,” Washington said of the linebacker group as a whole and their athleticism. “Smael’s stepped up I feel like for sure. I’ve seen a lot of him so far coming back off of injury … His confidence and ability to play coverage wise, I feel like he for sure got better in that.”
By no means does Mondon have a starting spot secured for the fall. Athleticism alone won’t do that. But if he’s able to continue impressing in camp like it sounds like he did this summer, look for Mondon to be among the Bulldogs’ top replacement options at inside linebacker.
