Head coach Kirby Smart has become known for having a keen eye for freaky athletes on the defensive side of the ball, and he may have struck again with Quintavius Johnson.
Johnson is a 6-foot-4, 242-pound outside linebacker from Mays High School in Atlanta, GA. Johnson started his high school career as his team's starting quarterback before fully transitioning to the defensive side of the ball his junior year.
Following the transition, Johnson turned into a four-star recruit on almost every major recruiting site and picked up a multitude of P4 offers despite being lowly ranked for much of the cycle.
Although he is relatively new to defense, Johnson has already made waves in the Bulldogs' fall practices. He especially caught the eye of tight ends coach Todd Hartley, who praised the freshman while speaking with the media a couple of weeks ago.
"I've been pleasantly surprised with Q. Johnson," Hartley said. "He's athletic and surprisingly for a freshman has not been overwhelmed with what our defense is trying to do schematically — not that I can tell. Chidera might give you a different story."
Johnson was one of the Bulldogs' early enrollees from the 2024 recruiting class and arrived on campus during winter to begin his preparation for the 2024 college football season. He also received praise from a leader on the defensive side of the ball, senior Chaz Chambliss.
Chambliss noted Johnson's size, speed and power while noting that they are wanting to find his greatest strength and "playing to them." Johnson may not see the field often this season as he is currently facing a loaded position group, but his performance in camp could earn him some looks in UGA’s DL rotation.
He is currently behind or competing with names like Mykel Williams, Chaz Chambliss, Damon Wilson, Sam M'Pemba and others. This could be a blessing in disguise for the former high school quarterback as he will have the time necessary to improve and acclimate to the outside linebacker position.
Johnson will sport the No. 33, previously worn by CJ Allen last season, and could be one of the freshmen the coaching staff unleashes in clean-up duty to cause havoc and receive in-game reps. Expect his name to be brought up often over the next couple of seasons.
Photo via UGA Athletics.
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