ATHENS – CJ Allen and Raylen Wilson entered fall camp early, and we shouldn’t know how well they start the 2024 season.
But injuries to Smael Mondon and Jamon Dumas-Johnson a year ago forced the freshman duo onto the field. In hindsight, Kirby Smart realizes that the two weren’t quite ready for what was asked of them. Freshman linebackers, even ones as talented as Allen and Wilson, aren’t supposed to step in and effortlessly replace all-conference players.
“They were thrust into the spotlight and had to play earlier — probably before they were ready, to be honest with you,” Smart said Tuesday. “You grow up when you have to do that. I think you forget what year they’re in sometimes. That happens to me all the time.”
“I think Raylen and CJ are experienced veterans on our team because they are in the upper echelons both in terms of playing time and years of service.”
Allen and Wilson started the final game of the 2023 season together as Smael Mondon battled a foot injury. The duo could open the 2024 season together again as Mondon is still working on his recovery from a foot injury and dealing with the possibility of a suspension.
But Allen and Wilson, who have now had another full offseason, are much better prepared than they were a season ago.
“CJ and Raylen have really benefited from having the opportunity to take on leadership roles this spring and prepare for the bowl,” Georgia defensive coordinator Glenn Schumann said. “They’ve only grown through it. I think you’ve seen their confidence increase. These guys are really mature for their age in terms of their preparation. They’ve continued to grow every day and I’m excited to see how they play this year.”
Allen and Wilson aren’t the oldest players in the inside linebacker room. Mondon is back as a senior for Georgia, while the Bulldogs have also deployed Jalon Walker as an inside linebacker. Walker, however, is seen as more of a hybrid linebacker, as he will play both inside linebacker and outside linebacker.
Part of the reason for that is his ability to pressure the passer, but it also shows how good Allen and Wilson already are as inside linebackers for the Bulldogs. And that’s without even mentioning Troy Bowles, who was also signed for 2023, or any of the three highly talented freshman linebackers Georgia signed in the 2024 cycle.
Despite Mondon’s uncertainty, there is little cause for concern about the state of Georgia’s inside linebackers. A big reason for that is the continued development of Allen and Wilson.
“They’re learning things too. They’re starting to recognize things better on offense,” tight end Oscar Delp said. “They play fast and make plays. They’re not afraid to put their face in it. They’re going to be two really good guys to help us this year. They’re also making us better every day, just how quickly they react to things and how well they hide things.”
Walker compared the two as brothers. The duo is always mentioned together. Allen is considered the more intelligent of the two, while Wilson is more of a bull in a china shop, destructive to everything. Allen was statistically the more successful of the two, totaling 41 tackles, 2.5 tackles for loss, and one sack. Wilson had 15 tackles and 0.5 sacks, but missed some time at the start of the 2023 season due to a knee injury.
The two complement each other at the center of Georgia’s defense. They grew together in the offseason and hope to put the loss and performance against Alabama behind them.
Now, as sophomores and leaders, they’re ready to take the next step in Georgia’s defense. And unlike the 2023 season, the two seem ready for what comes next.
“They’ve developed tremendously over the course of the spring and I can’t wait to watch them throughout the season,” Walker said. “I feel like we’ve made a lot of progress on the inside by focusing on and refining our details during spring and fall camp.”
