UGA loses LB Dumas-Johnson to lower arm fracture

• Mark Schlabach, ESPN Senior WriterNov 4, 2023, 08:57 PM ET Close Senior college football author Author of seven books on college football

• Graduate of the University of Georgia

ATHENS, Georgia– All-American linebacker Jamon Dumas-Johnson fractured his left forearm in No. 2 Georgia’s 30-21 triumph over No. 12 Missouri on Saturday and will most likely be sidelined for the foreseeable future.Dumas-Johnson was injured on the final play of the 3rd quarter. He was using a cast and sling on the field after the Bulldogs’ 26th successive triumph. When Georgia coach Kirby Smart was asked if Dumas-Johnson could play in games with a cast, he said X-rays revealed a fracture that probably would not enable him to do it.

“I do not think so,” Smart said. “It’s one of those where I question he’s going to be able to, but I do not understand.”

Dumas-Johnson, a junior from Hyattsville, Maryland, was a Butkus Award finalist and All-American while helping lead the Bulldogs to their 2nd straight College Football Playoff championship game last season. He has actually started 24 straight games at one of the inside linebacker spots and has 34 tackles, 5 1/2 tackles for loss and 3 1/2 sacks in nine games this season.Georgia hosts No. 10 Ole Miss at Sanford Arena on Saturday, followed by road games at No. 17 Tennessee and Georgia Tech to close the routine season. Jamon Dumas-Johnson was wearing a cast and a sling after fracturing his forearm in Saturday’s win over Missouri. Image by Todd Kirkland/Getty Images Sophomore Jalon Walker and freshman C.J. Allen played inside linebacker in the 4th quarter, together with the other starter, Smael Mondon. Walker had 4 takes on and 1 1/2 sacks.”They played before he got hurt and those guys have actually played all year, so we need those guys to keep coming and to mature,” Smart said.”They’ve done an incredible task. [I’ve] got a great deal of regard for those young guys that work for this opportunity, and they go out there and practice every day as hard as they can and they’re truly excellent football players. They’re very talented and they got included the fire tonight more than typical.”After the Bulldogs pulled ahead of the Tigers 27-21 on Peyton Woodring’s 30-yard basket with 8:59 left, Georgia

‘s defense offered 2 big plays to put Missouri away. The Tigers reached midfield, however then quarterback Brady Cook’s pass to tight end Brett Norfleet was intercepted by protective lineman Nazir Stackhouse. Stackhouse, a 6-foot-3, 320-pound senior, said it was his first interception in any football game.”All I might consider was trying to get to the end zone, “Stackhouse said.” It’s so unreal right now and hard to discuss with words, however this is so interesting. Throughout my whole career, ever playing football, and playing football considering that I was 6 years of ages, I have actually never had an interception.”Stackhouse ran 44 lawns down the best sideline to the Missouri 5. His return was wiped out by Mondon’s illegal blindside block, which moved the ball back to the Georgia 30. Editor’s Picks

“It was sluggish movement,”Smart

said.” We told him after the game we needed to get the piano off his back. He stated when he took off, he just knew he was going to rating. He didn’t understand how far he had to run. He was out of breath about midway.”

Stackhouse said receiver Ladd McConkey and hurt tight end Brock Bowers joked with him about not lifting his knees while he was running. Stackhouse stated someone on the sideline clocked him running 18 miles per hour, but Smart wasn’t purchasing it.

“No chance,” Smart stated. “He might maybe hit 18 mph on a bike or in a car.”

Stackhouse’s huge play set up Woodring’s career-long 48-yard field goal with 3:57 left, which pushed Georgia’s lead to 9 points. Then on Missouri’s next drive, safety Javon Bullard intercepted Cook’s overthrown give the right sideline to seal the victory.It was Georgia’s

12th straight home win over a ranked opponent in the Associated Press Top 25 survey.”We have actually got a disciplined football team,”Smart stated. “They do what we ask. We do not get a lot of stupid penalties. They believe in each other. They believe that if they do not win the last minute they’ll win the next minute. And if you win enough minutes you can be respectable, and we won enough moments this evening.”