Here’s a familiar storyline for Georgia football heading into a new season: There’s talent overflowing at inside linebacker once again.
Behind leading returning tackler CJ Allen and experienced junior Raylen Wilson are a couple of former five-stars that looked the part of being ready for larger roles this spring.
Sophomores Chris Cole and Justin Williams give defensive coordinator Glenn Schumann more play-making pieces to use.
“I think the biggest thing is getting guys to play winning football,” Allen said.
The 2021 Georgia national championship team had first-round draft pick Quay Walker, Butkus Award-winner Nakobe Dean and fellow third-round draft pick Channing Tindall.
Even with Jalon Walker gone to the Falcons in the NFL Draft’s first round and Smael Mondon to the Eagles in the fifth earlier this spring, Georgia’s linebackers are ranked the fourth best in the nation at the position by Pro Football Focus.
It cites Allen’s 89.8 run-defense grade, which ranked seventh among FBS linebackers last season, and Wilson’s 66.3 coverage grade, which was 12th among SEC linebackers.
Then there are Cole and Williams, best of friends who enjoy making TikToks together. They showed what they could bring this season during Georgia’s spring G-Day game.
Cole pressured the quarterback around left tackle, ran down a ball-carrier on a 2-yard run, deflected a pass over the middle and was credited with six tackles, all solo.
Williams dropped a tight end for a tackle on a short pass and broke up a fourth-down pass during a day when he tallied nine tackles, including three for loss.
“They enjoy each other,” coach Kirby Smart said. “They compete. They love the game of football. …It’s not the ratings or the stars or all those things. It really isn’t. It’s just the kids that want to play the game the most right now and…
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Publish date : 2025-06-13 08:01:00
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