Georgia football: grading exterior linemen in 2019 recruiting class

Does Johnson assume starting DE duties?

Starting defensive end might be a more ferocious battle than jack linebacker, since the Dawgs don’t have a solid backup returning to assume the role. That might make Jermaine Johnson the best candidate. He’s the best JUCO player in the nation, according to 247Sports Composite, and he’ll be a junior when next season rolls around.

His maturity and next level experience gives him value high school signees don’t have yet. Because of his size and power, he’ll probably fit in more as a defensive end in Georgia’s 3-4, where he’ll take on stronger offensive linemen and lineup with the tight end.

He certainly showed that power at Independence Community College, becoming one of the best pass rushers at the junior college level. But he’s always been a power-five talent, by his own admission, he made mistakes in high school academically that kept him from being recruiting. He used the JUCO ranks as “Last Chance U” and he became the best JUCO player in the process.

He’s not coming to Athens to build depth, he’s coming to play as soon as possible, and that probably means becoming the starting defensive end.