New Leaders Emerging For Kirby Smart, Georgia Bulldogs
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ATHENS - After winning the 2021 National Championship last season, we’ll be seeing a totally different Georgia team in 2022.
Kirby Smart and the Bulldogs lost most of their defensive starters from last fall and saw plenty of team leaders and captains end their career in Athens.
One of the toughest things to do in all of sports is to repeat as champions, and they’ll need new players to step up in leadership roles if they want to make that happen in 2022. Right now, the Bulldogs have +350 odds to win the 2022 CFP National Championship according to FanDuel.
Last week, Kirby Smart spoke about some players who have stepped up in leadership roles during practice.
“I think we have a lot of guys stepping up”, Smart said. “I think Pop (Jamon Dumas-Johnson) Is doing a great job stepping up. Sedrick Van Pran, Warren Ericson are guys that continue to lead upfront and Broderick (Jones) has tried to take on a little bit bigger role, Kearis (Jackson) continues to do that. Nolan (Smith Jr.) has been tremendous at being vocal when things aren’t going right, Kelee (Ringo) has done a good job with that. Really a lot of guys you can just see them trying to assert themselves and encourage more than discouraging.”
One of the clear leaders this spring has been outside linebacker, Nolan Smith. The former No.1 prospect in the 2019 class, Smith is a complete defender who excels against the run and knows how to get after the passer. He decided to come back for his senior season, citing he wants to leave Georgia a “legend”. Last fall, Smith made 53 tackles, 8 TFLs, and 4.5 sacks. He’s easily one of the more vocal leaders on the team right now.
Kearis Jackson, a veteran receiver from the 2018 class, might still be one of the more undervalued players on the team. He’s explosive, has reliable hands, and he’s a proven leader in the receiver room. The former Peach County (GA) star will be relied upon in a number of different ways in 2022, and his leadership will be needed throughout the season.
The Bulldogs have a veteran offensive line, and Smart added that one of his rising stars, left tackle Broderick Jones, is also emerging as a leader on offense.
“I think confidence has helped”, Smart said about Jones. “I think he has heard from some really good leaders. Jamaree and Justin, both those guys are great leaders. I think he has learned a lot from them.”
After securing Georgia’s national championship with a game-winning pick-6, it’s easy to see why rising junior Kelee Ringo has emerged as a leader on defense. The former 5-star was one of the top prospects in the entire 2020 class out of high school, and he’s showing why he was ranked as high as he was. He’s a true playmaker, and now he’s turned into a leader in a veteran-led secondary.
The Bulldogs have turned into “LBU” recently as Glenn Schumann has helped developed guys like Roquan Smith, Monty Rice, Tae Crowder, Nakobe Dean, and many more during his time coaching Georgia’s middle linebackers. Next in line appears to be sophomore Jamon Dumas-Johnson, otherwise known as “Pop”. The quick, instinctive linebacker saw playing time last year in a backup role, and could be running the middle of Georgia’s defense next year as a sophomore. He may be young, but it’s a great sign that he’s already taking on a leadership role.
