Smael Mondon returning to Georgia for 2024 season
Georgia inside linebacker Smael Mondon, one of the top Bulldog defenders from the past two seasons, had made a decision on his football future. Mondon will be coming back to UGA for his senior season. The news was first reported by On3’s Pete Nakos.
Mondon has served as a starting inside linebacker at Georgia for the past two seasons. He battled injuries in both of those years. Despite playing in just 13 of 15 games in 2022, all starts, the Dallas, Ga. native was the Bulldogs leading tackler with 76 total stops (49 solo). He also had eight tackles for loss, one sack, one interception, five quarterback hurries and a pass breakup.
The following spring began with Mondon healthy and projected to start at inside linebacker but he suffered a foot injury in the final week that required surgery. His status for the start of the 2023 season was up in the air but he played in the opener vs. UT-Martin and didn’t miss a game all season.
That injured foot and other injuries hampered him all season but he fought through to tally 68 total tackles (42 solo). He also had five tackles for loss, three sacks, two quarterback hurries, and one pass breakup on the year.
With Mondon limited for most of the season and inside linebacker running mate Jamon Dumas-Johnson suffering a broken forearm against Missouri in week nine, true freshmen CJ Allen and Raylen Wilson were leaned upon. Allen was in the inside linebacker rotation to start the season and Wilson, who suffered a knee injury during preseason camp, came on later in the year.
Dumas-Johnson has entered the transfer portal since the end of Georgia’s season, leaving the rotation of Mondon, Allen and Wilson, among others, to be counted upon in 2024. The Bulldogs also have Jalon Walker and Troy Bowles, both of whom were considered to be top-10 linebackers in their respective recruiting classes, and add a trio of talented true freshmen next season as well (Justin Williams, Chris Cole, Kris Jones).
As a prospect Mondon earned the elite five-star label. He was the nation’s No. 27 prospect in the 2021 class and the No. 1 linebacker per the industry-generated On3 Industry Ranking, a weighted average that incorporates all four recruiting services. He was the No. 3 prospect in the Peach State.
