Georgia leads the way for Sporting News All-American selections
Sporting News’ 2022 All-American selections are out, and Georgia leads the way on all fronts. The Bulldogs have three first-team selections and four overall across the two teams. Once again, Jalen Carter and Christopher Smith were selected as first-teamers, their fourth straight when it comes to NCAA-recognized lists for Consensus All-American status, and are just an American Football Coaches Association selection away from being unanimous All-Americans. Meanwhile, they are joined by Jamon Dumas-Johnson who made his first appearance on an All-American team yesterday with the announcement of the Associated Press’ selections. Brock Bowers is the only Georgia offensive player selected and comes in on the second-team.
Sporting News on Jalen Carter: “Carter inherits the spot former teammate Jordan Davis held on SN’s All-American team last season. The 6-3, 300-pound defensive tackle is a game-wrecker in the interior, and he played great in huge games. Carter had two forced fumbles in the No. 1 vs. No. 2 showdown against Tennessee, and he had an iconic sack where he held LSU quarterback Jayden Daniels in the air while holding up the “No. 1″ sign in the SEC championship game.”
Sporting News on Jamon Dumas-Johnson: “Dumas-Johnson is the second straight first-team selection at linebacker from Georgia. He tied for the Bulldogs’ team lead with 64 tackles, and the sophomore was consistent throughout the season. That emergence for the dominant Georgia defense lands Dumas-Johnson on the first team.”
Sporting News on Christopher Smith: “The big-play safety is the third Georgia defensive player on our first team. Smith is an all-around force and a leader on the back end for the Bulldogs. He finished with 50 tackles and five tackles for loss, but he also had three interceptions. He had six games with at least five tackles.”
Dumas-Johnson is the leading tackler for Georgia on one of the nation’s best defenses. He’s got 64 stops in 13 games this season including a team-high 8.0 tackles for loss and 3.0 sacks, tied for best among the Bulldogs. Smith isn’t too far behind from his safety spot on the back end, finishing fourth in tackles with 50 including 5.0 for loss and a sack. He leads the way in interceptions with three and had one of the biggest plays of the season with his 96-yard touchdown return on a blocked field goal in the SEC Championship victory over LSU.
While those two might be the statistical leaders, there’s been no bigger presence on Georgia’s defense than Carter. He missed a big bulk of time early in the season as he battled through an ankle injury before suffering a sprained MCL that sidelined him completely. However, since he’s returned he’s been a man on a mission. Against Tennessee, Carter had a pair of sacks and a pair of forced fumbles, earning him Bednarik Player of the Week. One week later he had a career-high seven stops at Mississippi State as Georgia clinched the SEC East. Overall, all 7.0 of Carter’s tackles for loss have come in the last five games.
Enough about the defense. Time to talk a little offense and what Bowers has been able to do on that side of the ball, leading Georgia in receiving for a second straight season. The winner of the John Mackey Award, given to the nation’s top tight end, Bowers racked up 52 catches for 726 yards and six touchdowns, all team-highs. He also added 93 yards rushing on just six carries, three of which ended in the end zone.
