Injuries put Georgia linebacker room in an all-too-familiar place

UGA Linebackers (UGA Sports Comm) Georgia inside linebacker Troy Bowles (0), Georgia inside linebacker Terrell Foster (30), Georgia inside linebacker Smael Mondon Jr. (2), Georgia inside linebacker Jalon Walker (11), Georgia inside linebacker CJ Allen (3), Georgia inside linebacker Chris Cole (18), Fain and Billy Slaughter defensive coordinator Glenn Schumann after Georgia's game against Clemson in the Aflac Kickoff Game at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, Ga., on Saturday, Aug. 31, 2024. (Tony Walsh/UGAAA) (Tony Walsh/Tony Walsh/UGAAA)

October 8, 2024 at 10:34 a.m. UTC

By Connor Riley, DawgNation

ATHENS — Kirby Smart has made it clear by now he doesn’t love the thought of having to play a true freshman at inside linebacker.

We saw that last year with Raylen Wilson and CJ Allen. There were moments of promise. And there were growing pains.

Yet because of injuries at the inside linebacker position, Georgia is once again having to turn to a freshman for reps.

This time, it’s Chris Cole, who took Mondon’s spot as Georgia’s third-down linebacker.