Smael Mondon Jr., LB Georgia: 2024 NFL Draft Profile

Mondon was a five-star recruit from Paulding County High School in Dallas, Ga. in the class of 2021

Smael Mondon Jr. is the latest Georgia Bulldogs linebacker with NFL upside. The junior already shows flashes of fitting the run at a high level. He could be a top 60 pick in the 2024 NFL Draft if he continues developing his coverage skills.

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Smael Mondon Jr., LB Georgia: 2024 NFL Draft Profile

Classification: Junior inside linebacker from Dallas, Ga.

Background: Mondon was a five-star recruit from Paulding County High School in Dallas, Ga. in the class of 2021. He was the No. 35 recruit according to 247Sports, No. 97 (four-star) for Rivals, and No. 27 for On3.com. ESPN ranked him 11th in the nation with a 90 grade out of 100. In four seasons at Paulding County, Mondon totaled 83 tackles, one interception, a forced fumble, and two fumble recoveries. He played quarterback, running back, and wide receiver, amassing recorded 1,129 all-purpose yards and 15 touchdowns. Mondon was part of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution’s “Super 11” for 2020. He was selected for the 2021 All-American Bowl. Mondon participated in the 100-meter dash, 200-meter dash, relays, long jump, and triple jump as part of the track and field team. As a sophomore, he posted a 46-foot triple jump and an 11.46 100-meter dash.

Injuries & Off-Field: Missed time as a high school senior with an MCL injury, missed 2022 Auburn and Vanderbilt games with a sprained MCL, missed spring scrimmage in 2023 with an injury

Awards: N/A

Pros: Special teams experience on the kick return, kick coverage, punt return, punt coverage, and field goal units, zero penalties committed in 2022, high-end athletic upside, arm length appears average to above average, speed, sideline-to-sideline range, motor runs hot, quick to diagnose basic concepts, pre-snap recognition to get a head start on plays, reads block well and reacts quickly, tracks the ball well, ideal run fits, willing to come downhill and challenge tight ends or linemen in the run game, gave Paris Johnson Jr. (2022) some real battles, flows to the football, flows over the top to make run stops on the opposite side of the field as the backside run defender, usually a fundamentally sound tackler, was everywhere in the run game vs. Ohio State (2022), absolute terror as a blitzer, patient pass rusher who finds the open lane, surprising contact balance as a pass rusher, more than enough speed to cover running backs and tight ends, speed to carry receiving threats from the slot downfield

Cons: Enters 2023 with one year of more than 120 defensive snaps, lean linebacker, technique to stack and shed blocks needs development, fullbacks and tight ends are road blocks, must do a better job avoiding climbing linemen, awareness of climbing blockers comes and goes, appeared to be taken off the field in some goal-line situations, drawn out of position by play action, sometimes comes in too hot on tackle attempts and misses, lacks the mass to contend with linemen as a pass rusher, not a bendy edge rusher, caught flat-footed and half a second behind the play in man coverage, lack of anticipation hurts his change of direction in coverage, downfield awareness and technique in coverage, awareness and timing when covering slot options, awareness and feel for zone coverage is a work in progress, lost in space in zone

Overview: Georgia listed Mondon as a reserve defensive back in 2021. He played more than 120 defensive snaps in a season for the first time in 2022. Mondon has special teams experience on the kick return, kick coverage, punt return, punt coverage, and field goal units. He is an athletic, versatile linebacker with average to above average arm length and the speed to play sideline-to-sideline. Mondon is quick to diagnose basic run concepts and uses his pre-snap recognition skills to get a head start on the action. His run defense appeared very instinctive and natural against Ohio State (2022). The former five-star recruit reads block well and reacts quickly. He tracks the ball carrier exceptionally well and fits the run at a high level despite entering 2023 as just a one-year starter. Mondon is lean and lacks the mass to defeat larger blockers consistently, but he’s willing to come downhill and challenge tight ends or linemen in the run game. The Georgia native flows to the football from all the way across the formation. He’s usually a fundamentally sound tackler but sometimes misses tackles when he doesn’t come to balance. The Bulldogs frequently use Mondon as a blitzer. He doesn’t display much bend off the edge or have a developed pass rush plan, but he’s an athletic nightmare for offenses to account for. Mondon is a patient pass rusher who waits for the open lane to reveal itself before quickly closing on the quarterback. Despite his size, the junior has surprising contact balance. While he is an aggressive player, Mondon’s technique for stacking and shedding blocks is still a work in progress. This shows up in the run and pass game. Linemen can catch and entrap him when he blitzes, and fullbacks and tight halt his progress toward the ball on run plays. Mondon must do a better job of recognizing and avoiding climbing blockers. Pass coverage is the area Mondon needs to improve in the most. He has more than enough speed and athletic ability to cover running backs, tight ends, and even some slot receivers on vertical routes, but his awareness and instincts are still raw. His lack of anticipation hurts his change of direction skills in coverage. Mondon is caught flat-footed, which leads to him being half a second behind the play. His awareness on downfield routes and use of leverage need to improve. Mondon’s feel for zone coverage is a work in progress. He often looks lost in space with little awareness of routes happening outside his immediate vision.

Overall, Mondon is a unique athlete at the linebacker position who showcases instinctive and advanced responses to the run game, but his awareness and technique in coverage are a work in progress. Mondon has the physical tools to be a well-rounded linebacker, but his ceiling as a draft prospect will be determined by his development in coverage.

Role & Scheme Fit: Weakside linebacker in a 4-3 scheme or overhang defender

Round Projection: Late Second to Early Third

Size: 6'3", 220 lbs. (Unofficial)

Submitted: 07-01-23