Damon Wilsons fast start helps answer a big defensive question for Georgia football

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How freshman Damon Wilson helped answer Georgia football’s big defensive question

In Georgia’s No. 2-ranked signing class for the 2023 cycle, Damon Wilson was the top recruit. He was a massive early signing season win as the Bulldogs beat the Ohio State Buckeyes to land the nation’s 20th player.

I’m very happy with where they are and how hard they’re working, but they’re not there yet.

It was no secret that Georgia’s outside linebacker position was the biggest concern on the defensive side of the ball this spring. Smith and Robert Beal both left for the NFL. Chaz Chambliss is the only returner with significant snaps at the position.

Prospects Marvin Jones Jr. and Jalon Walker were also sidelined with shoulder injuries. Perhaps no other quarterback will have a bigger spotlight on them the rest of the season than Jones. He was a 5-star signee Georgia landed in the 2022 cycle, but injuries to that point have slowed his development. Georgia knew it could afford to be patient with his development as Smith and Beal were both seniors last year.

In theory, Jones should be Georgia’s closer to the outside linebacker. He’s bigger than Smith and Beal, as Georgia has made a concerted effort to get bigger at the position. Jones is 6-foot-5, 250 pounds. Wilson, who enrolled early at Georgia, is 6-foot-4 and 235 pounds. You can expect him to grow as he thrives in Georgia’s strength and conditioning program.

With Jones recovering from injury, Wilson maximized his long reps. He was one of G-Day’s standouts, finishing with 2.0 verses on the afternoon. There’s a long list of qualifiers why we shouldn’t read too much into Wilson’s strong performances, but it’s encouraging to see his athleticism stand out so quickly.

And the freshman play could help Georgia settle into what it wants to do with Walker.

Walker came to Georgia as a member of the 2022 signing class with the intention of playing inside linebacker. But with several senior players on the field, Walker only saw the field as a fringe eater. He proved effective, finishing with several pressures in the College Football Playoff win over Ohio State and getting his first career sack against TCU.

Up top, Georgias linebacker room will be less crowded in 2023. While the Bulldogs brought in three talented 2023 signees, two veterans moved on in Trezmen Marshall and Rian Daivs.

Starters Jamon Dumas-Johnson and Smael Mondon will return in 2023, but Georgia will never play just two inside linebackers. There will be a cycle and the Walker figures will be a key figure in it. Xavian Sorey and EJ Lightsey both had good moments this spring, but the Bulldogs will play four inside linebackers. With Walker and Sorey in particular, Georgia looks to be more athletic at the position than it was in 2022. Especially in terms of depth.

Wilson’s development this spring will likely keep Walker as the full-time inside linebacker. He may still line up all over the field, especially on third down, but his home is at inside linebacker. While Walker likely won’t start this year, unless of course there’s an injury to either Mondon or Dumas-Johnson and Mondon misses G-Day with a lower extremity injury, one only has to watch the development of 2022 first-round pick Quay Walker. to see how Georgia envisions using Jalon Walker.

As for Wilson, he is one of three players on the team out of his class. Georgia also brought in Sam MPemba and Gabe Harris in this class. Both have promising futures, but neither is at the same stage of development as Wilson.

He has the ability. He has some pass rush ability, Smart said in April. He’s going to be a really good soccer player if he decides to work at it. It won’t be as easy as maybe in high school. Rushes against Amarius Mims, rushes against Earnest Greene, (Austin) Blaske, you know, really good tackles. He has not encountered such people.

Wilsons play this spring, as encouraging as it was, doesn’t tend to answer all the questions about the outside linebacker position. Jones is still the most important player at his position in the 2023 season. Darris Smith and CJ Madden are also important names. Chambliss is still going to be the guy’s starter and is likely the best defender of the bunch.

Georgia never wants to rely on the Freshmen to play big roles. Wilson and others must earn their playing time. Malaki Starks and Mykel Williams did it for the Bulldogs in 2022. Wilson could potentially do it at Georgia this coming season.