'Pop' ready to on bigger role as a sophomore
'Pop' ready to on bigger role as a sophomore
Jamon Dumas-Johnson is expected to be Georgia football’s next great inside linebacker.
He’s a guy that has already contributed for the Bulldogs late in games as a freshman in 2021, however, Dumas-Johnson didn’t see a lot of action due to the talent in front of him.
He shared the field with Nakobe Dean, Quay Walker and Channing Tindall. All three went on to be selected in the 2022 NFL Draft. So, entering his sophomore campaign, the Baltimore, Maryland, native wants to take on a bigger role for Georgia this upcoming season.
Dumas-Johnson has received a lot of hype from both the Bulldogs’ coaching staff and his teammates. He’s commonly referred to as “Pop” around the locker room and facility.
Per Dumas-Johnson, the nickname doesn’t stem from his hard hits but from somewhere else.
“My mom gave it to me,” Dumas-Johnson said to reporters. “I’ve seen some videos going around. People got their own saying of what my nickname is, but my mom gave it to me. My mom said it was from a commercial, and when it came on, I left. But I like Pops now.”
Dumas-Johnson earned his nickname. He played in 14 of 15 games last season in 2021. He totaled 22 tackles, 2.5 tackles for loss, two sacks and three pass breakups as a freshman.
The 6-foot-1, 245-pound linebacker is most known for his play against UAB last season. He recorded an interception and returned it 20 yards for a score in mop-up duty versus the Blazers.
“That pick-six was fun, but that was last year,” Dumas-Johnson said. “I don’t look behind me, I look forward. So, I hope to have one this year.”
His mindset is about wanting to improve. ‘Pop’ desires to take what he learned from his previous teammates and apply that to what he does moving forward.
“Those guys did a perfect job preparing me and the other guys to step up,” Dumas-Johnson said of his three Georgia former teammates “Once you get that one year under your belt, you should be good. As long as you’re locked in that first year and learn your concepts, you should be good. … My mentality is to play fast, step up and take on that leadership that those guys left behind. There’s been a lot of guys pushing me, raising the ship. I’m trying to push them and make us the best at the end of the day.”
Dumas-Johnson has earned the respect of edge rusher Nolan Smith, who loves the effort he gives.
“Every time he's out there, you actually see a pop. Literally. When he goes in there for two plays, he gets the ball out,” Smith said. “Like, No. 10, he went in for three plays against UAB and he caught a pick-six, ran it back and gets forced fumbles and sacks within seconds. So I love him.”
Dumas-Johnson has developed a close relationship with Georgia co-defensive coordinator and inside linebackers coach, Glenn Schumann. He is the reason “Pop” chose UGA.
Schumann has seen Dumas-Johnson’s game develop since he arrived on campus, although the seventh-year position coach still knows that he still has a long way to go.
“I think he’s challenged himself. He knows in the summer you attack strength and conditioning to be able to say, hey I might have an increased role this year,” Schumann said. “What do I have to do in terms of my strength and conditioning to do whatever role is asked of me? He loves football. He practices really hard. He's an instinctive, physical player, but (we) need to continue to see him grow. Everybody needs to grow.”
Dumas-Johnson is a part of an inside linebackers group that has several other players who can contribute a lot, including veterans such as Trezmen Marshall and Rian Davis. Others are players like Smael Mondon, Xavian Sorey, EJ Lightsey and Jalon Walker.
According to Dumas-Johnson, he wants to “challenge himself” and improve on the field. He said he is also thankful for the reviews his teammates have given him in interviews.
“If they’re saying that, obviously they see some things that I can bring to the games or bring to the table for the team,” Dumas-Johnson said. “I appreciate the guys that think I can do it, and I believe in myself that I can do it. I’m ready for the next challenge.”
Dumas-Johnson’s objective this season is to keep the bar set high for the entire program, but especially the defense. He wants to emulate what Dean and the others left behind.
“My goal this year is to be the best that we can be the whole season,” he said. “Not just me, but the whole team. Keep the same Georgia standard as if they never left. I learned from all of them. I took pieces from each of their game and molded them into my own.”
Here is an interview with Dumas-Johnson: