MJ Sherman puts 'selflessness' on display ahead of senior return
LOS ANGELES — Georgia outside linebacker MJ Sherman wasn’t the star of the Bulldogs’ 65-7 National Championship win over TCU on Monday, but he certainly had an impact. Defensive MVP Javon Bullard said that Sherman gave a speech in the locker room before the game that had everybody ready to go – whether they were going to be on the field or not.
“I know as far as defense perspectives you’ve just got to do your job. Not – just allowing yourself to do too much. You don’t have to be a superstar. This is a help-me, help-you defense,” Bullard said. “… Selflessness is the team DNA. It’s one of our DNA traits. We’ve got so many selfless guys in the locker room and Sherman came up to us, and he gave us a speech last night. And it really touched me because he was, like, ‘Even if you’re not getting in the game we still need you.’ He was, like, ‘We still need you. We need your motivation on the sidelines. Don’t hold your head low. We still need that motivation. We’re playing in a national championship. If one person gets a sack the whole team gets a sack.’ That whole selflessness is really what this team is made of.”
Sherman did get on the field on special teams and recorded a tackle in the role that he told reporters earlier this season he’s really embraced since arriving at Georgia as a five-star in the Class of 2020. And after fans tried to read too much into Sherman sending out an enigmatic tweet after the game, his family has been quick to make it known, he won’t be going anywhere any time soon.
In three seasons at Georgia, Sherman has a total of 15 tackles with just one for loss and half a sack. When the Bulldogs were down pass rushers with Nolan Smith sidelined for the season and both Robert Beal and Chaz Chambliss banged up as well, Sherman didn’t really seem to be given much consideration. Freshmen Marvin Jones Jr. and Jalon Walker were asked to take on bigger roles instead.
Should that trend continue into 2023 with Smith and Beal off to the NFL, it’s not likely that Sherman’s senior season is going to be his big break. He’s clearly shown to be a contributor off the field however with his leadership presence, something that could come in handy for Chidera Uzo-Diribe and his young assembly of talent.
EDGEs Damon Wilson and Samuel M’Pemba are Georgia’s two highest-rated signees in the Class of 2023. Gabriel Harris, another top-100 signee per the On3 Consensus, is listed as a defensive lineman but likely ends up in the room too. Then of course there’s the second-year players Jones Jr. and Walker, plus Darris Smith who was also a top-100 player like his two classmates in the On300 for the Class of 2022. So, while there’s absolutely no certainty that Sherman sees the field much at all next year, one thing that is for sure is his importance as a leader as the Bulldogs go after a third straight title on the back of the talented outside linebackers.
