UGA Football Linebacker Details Why He Wanted to Get Bigger
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ATHENS - UGA Football enters the 2024 season loaded at linebacker, as it has been for most of its time under Kirby Smart.
The front seven has undergone a lot of retooling over the last couple of years, and the team is now a little bit younger at both inside and outside linebackers. With Jamon Dumas-Johnson, Marvin Jones Jr. and Darris Smith leaving by way of the transfer portal, there is room for new faces to contribute more at linebacker.
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Sophopmore Damon Wilson is one of the players you will see more of at the outside linebacker spot. He switched his number form #35 to #10 this season. Earlier this week, he spoke with Georgia reporters and explained why he wanted to gain weight ahead of this season.
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On his weight-gaining process this offseason…
“After my injury, I was around 235 and then came home. My dad and I really focused on putting on weight and getting my legs balanced. And so, I tried to put on like 15 [pounds], and the highest I got to was about like 252. I think the season I'll be playing around 248, 25. That’ll be my range.”
On the importance of strength conditioning…
“For me, I know my plan wasn't just to be an edge rusher. I want to be able to play first and second down, and I need that extra weight to be able to anchor and hold my weight against bigger and more aggressive tackles and just the overall strike. And then injuries as well, it [strength-conditioning] helps prevent injuries in the long run.”
On matching up in practice against Monroe Freeling and their relationship…
“Monroe has definitely gotten better. We've both gotten a lot better, and we've been able to see each other improve. I mean, coming in, we're both roommates, so we talk a lot about football. Football is one of our biggest things, that’s how we connected. So, it’s just being able to have an offensive tackle who's a close friend of mine, and then we can talk about just the small little details. We're going to be good together for the next three or four years. Good roommate, good guy, good person.”