Five UGA Football Players On Defense To Keep An Eye On This Spring
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ATHENS - Kirby Smart and the Georgia Bulldogs start spring practice this week, and there’s only one goal in mind.
Prepare for another national championship. This team has what it takes to win another title, and the journey starts this week.
Positions are up for grabs, and several Bulldog defenders could be bound for a big spring. Here are five of them...
One linebacker to keep an eye on is linebacker, Jalon Walker. A physical, versatile linebacker and one of the best pass-rushers on the roster, Walker is entering year three, so this is a money year for Walker. The Dawgs are loaded at inside linebacker and have plenty of outside linebackers ready to make a name for themselves this year.
Walker did play in every game last year, and did lead the team with five sacks, but can he take that next step this spring? Can he prove he’s an every-down linebacker? Can he win a starting role? Can he become a nationally known defender? The talent is clearly there, so maybe this is the year he becomes a true game-changer for the Bulldog defense.
A freshman defensive lineman to keep an eye on is former 5-star Joseph Jonah-Ajonye. The raw, but talented defender hasn’t played football for very long, but his 6-foot-4 275-pound frame and natural athleticism should translate well to the field. He’s a dependable run-stopper who can attack the quarterback, but his potential is what has a lot of people in Athens really excited. He has a high ceiling and a chance to open some eyes in spring practice. There are several veterans ahead of him on the depth chart, but at some point, this promising Texas native is going to see the field. Don’t be surprised if you hear his name some this spring.
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In the secondary, it’s only a matter of time before we hear more and more about safety, Joenel Aguero. This hard-hitting safety played in 12 games last year as a freshman, making seven tackles and a blocked punt against the Gators last year as a freshman. He’s a guy the staff loved out of high school, and he has a chance to earn a starting role this year. With a big spring, Aguero could fly up the depth chart at either STAR or safety, opposite of Malaki Starks. Aguero is sound in zone coverage and a terrific run defender who gets downhill quickly and can deliver a big hit on the ball carrier.
An inside linebacker to remember is Raylen Wilson. A speedy linebacker who covers a lot of ground, Wilson made 9 tackles last fall as a freshman but should see a lot more of the field in 2024. Right now, it looks like CJ Allen is the front-runner to win the inside linebacker job next to Smael Mondon, but Wilson is going to make him earn it. He’s a high-ceiling linebacker with his best football ahead of him, and he’s likely bound for a big spring. If he continues to develop properly under Glenn Schumann, Wilson will be tough to keep off the field in the fall.
It’s go-time for cornerback, Daniel Harris. One of the bigger cornerbacks on the roster at 6-foot-2 180-pounds, Harris is one of the favorites to win one of the starting cornerback jobs this fall. He played well against Florida State and thought hard about entering the transfer portal. He decided to stay in Athens, and it could turn out to be the right decision if he continues to develop this spring. He’ll be battling with Julian Humphrey and several others for the job, but his size, potential, and above-average speed give him a big opportunity to climb the depth chart this spring.