CJ Allen, Raylen Wilson prepared for pressure of bigger roles

ATHENS, Ga. — Georgia’s going to be counting on freshmen linebackers CJ Allen and Raylen Wilson more than ever before on Saturday. The Bulldogs take on No. 9 Ole Miss without All-American Jamon Dumas-Johnson available due to injury, and while it’s a tough position to put a pair of first-year players in, it’s one that Kirby Smart feels confident Allen and Wilson are ready for.

Both top-10 linebackers from the Class of 2023 and early enrollees, Allen and Wilson have been impressing from the moment they stepped foot on campus. Allen even got a shout out before he was technically on the team as Smart named him as one of the outstanding scout team players that helped Georgia prepare for its National Championship Game against TCU.

“I remember when they first got here for bowl practice, and they came out on scout defense and our offensive linemen were like, ‘Who are these guys?’ They were flying around hitting stuff,” Georgia offensive lineman Tate Ratledge said. “I’ve definitely seen them grow up a lot since they’ve been here, and now it’s kind of forced on them to try and step up into that role. I think they’ve done a really good job.”

Allen has played in all nine games for the Bulldogs so far this season, totaling 12 tackles with one in each of the last two games and multiple in four separate outings. Meanwhile, Wilson has played a little bit less only because of an injury he suffered during fall camp that slowed down his progression some. Still, he has seven stops in seven games including half a sack in a ranked win over Kentucky.

“Well, go back. They both were here midyear, so they were — we do so many walk-throughs and so many practices and so many in between. They’re both very intelligent kids, they pick up on things really well,” Smart said on Monday of the freshmen and their ability to make an impact on Georgia’s defense early in their respective careers. “They’re both very conscientious. They’ve both played more and more. Raylen more recently, CJ throughout the whole year. Very pleased where they are. They’re in a room where they’re asked to learn a lot of information and be able to command the defense, and they do a good job of that. I’ve got a lot of confidence in those two guys.”

“I don’t know that I can sit here and say anything set them apart to make them able to,” he added Tuesday. “You don’t know if a guy’s going to be play as a freshman until they get here and see how they learn and process. They were both bright kids and they were both really talented kids. So physically, they had the gifts to be able to play but I mean, within our defense, there’s a mental rep count you got to get and luckily, they had all spring. They got it down in the spring, then they had all summer and they’ve had all fall camp. Raylen would be probably at least where CJ is or ahead if he had not had the injury in camp. That set him back, but he’s caught up really quickly and they’re both really good athletes.”

With no Dumas-Johnson on the field, Smael Mondon will maintain his large presence on the defensive side of the ball, leading the team in tackles, while Smart pointed to Xavian Sorey and Jalon Walker as other options as well. However, there’s absolutely pressure that’s going to be put on Allen and Wilson to step up, and it’s expectations Smart believes they’ll handle well.

“To be honest with you, the two freshmen, they don’t practice and play like freshmen. They know the calls and do a great job,” Smart said.

“Kind of the first thing they told me when I got here: no matter what level you get to, football is still football. Still 100 yards, still have to hike the ball, offense, defense, still the same thing, just a faster tempo,” safety Malaki Starks, who started as a freshman last season, added on what he’ll tell the youngsters. “Just go out there and have fun and be able to trust your brothers beside you. Especially when you’re coming in as a freshman, I know it’s not so easy and nerve-wracking, but if you can trust the guy beside you and have faith in him that he’s going to help you out, it makes it a lot easier.”

Georgia and Ole Miss kickoff Saturday night at Sanford Stadium at 7:00 p.m. ET on ESPN. The network’s premiere pregame show will also be in Athens to feature the contest with College GameDay airing at 9:00 a.m. ET on the same channel. The Bulldogs are considered to be double-digit point favorites according to Vegas Insider.