NFL Draft
2/11/25
6 min read
Smael Mondon Jr. 2025 NFL Draft: Scouting Report For Georgia Bulldogs LB
Height: 6023 (verified)
Weight: 229lbs (verified)
Year: Senior
Pro Comparison: Darron Lee
Scouting Overview
Georgia Bulldogs linebacker Smael Mondon Jr. is an athletic defender who would be best implemented behind a gap-control front. He’s a rangy, athletic linebacker with good speed, length, and wrap-up ability as a tackler to help rally to the football and provide value on passing downs.
His consistency as a base MIKE backer making keys in the heart of the defense is not yet where it needs to be as an NFL starter, but he’s capable of playing zone coverage and being a subpackage option thanks to loose hips, a good burst, and length to occupy throwing windows in space.
2025 NFL Combine Results
| Position | Name | School | 40-Yard Dash | 10-Yard Split | Broad Jump | Vertical Jump | 3-Cone Drill | 20-Yard Shuttle | Bench Press |
| LB | Smael Mondon Jr | Georgia | 4.58 | 1.52 | 130 |
Positives
- Good length and tackle radius thanks to loose frame and wrap-up ability
- Offers fluidity in space and transitional mobility to hit ambitious coverage landmarks in zone or match in man coverage
- Sideline-to-sideline speed and burst to chase down perimeter plays in pursuit
Negatives
- Consistency in run keys can be more polished, which would put him in a better position to fit gaps
- Ability to deconstruct blocks in traffic is limited and must be more stout
- Has endured a lower-body injury in four of his last five seasons, going back to his senior year of HS
Background
Mondon is from Dallas, GA, and played high school football for Paulding County HS. There, he was a 5-star prospect and one of the best recruits in the country. Mondon was selected to the 2021 All-American Bowl and starred as a two-way player at linebacker and running back. In addition to the gridiron, Mondon participated in track & field and participated in the 100m, the 200m, the relays, the long jump, and the triple jump.
His recruitment included offers from Texas, Alabama, Miami, Tennessee, and others, but he ultimately chose to stay and play for his home state. Mondon joined the Bulldogs as a member of their 2021 recruiting class after a knee injury cut short his 2020 senior season.
Injuries have marred Mondon’s college career as well. He played in 15 games as a true freshman on special teams — the only year of his career in which he didn’t miss time due to injury. His 2022 sophomore campaign saw him claim a starting spot, but Mondon missed two games with an ankle injury. His 2023 season was interrupted in the spring — Mondon had a foot injury and missed the spring game with offseason surgery. Another foot injury cost Mondon four games in 2024.
Mondon was named Second Team All-SEC in 2023 and accepted an invitation to participate in the 2025 Reese’s Senior Bowl.
Tale Of The Tape
Mondon has a number of likable traits as a stack linebacker. He’s long, fluid, and rangy with his burst and speed in pursuit. These are foundational traits that can, in theory, provide him with a workable skill set in all phases of the position if he can further develop his game.
As a run defender, Mondon is a sturdy tackler but does not do himself favors by getting into favorable positions to make the play consistently. Misdirection and heavy traffic areas can cause Mondon’s fits to become scattershot, leaving him in recovery mode or late to arrive at appropriate gaps and at an angular disadvantage against developed blocks.
Mondon has the length to punch, stack, and extend, but his pure-punch power and play strength do not afford him a margin for error in these instances, and he can be sealed or knocked off his fit by linemen.
As a rally and pursuit player, he can consistently hoof it and close down distance to work back into back inside him when chasing the ball down from the backside. This, plus his length and tackle radius, allow him to finish these opportunities even when they stretch outside the numbers.
As a coverage defender, Mondon has flashed man coverage and zone ability. He boasts the foot speed and hips to flash in short spaces and can be a legitimate option to cover option routes out of the backfield. He has enough length and size to handle the rigors of most tight ends in coverage. Georgia’s pressure looks put him mugged up into gaps or walked up on the edge, and Mondon showed little issue dropping out and hitting hook/curl or middle-of-the-field assignments that required him to match speed through his assignment area.
Mondon’s ball production is modest, and both of his defended passes in 2024 came with him walked up on the line of scrimmage, but the Senior Bowl offered a great showcase for Mondon to be an athlete in space and handle a lot of grass assignments or working in isolation.
As a pressure player, Mondon lacks the play strength to run through punches and can too easily get knocked off his trajectory. You’d like to see a better center of gravity to counteract lateral contact, but Mondon struggles in these instances despite carrying momentum through the gap.
He can be effective from depth if protections fail to anticipate his arrival through a gap. Mondon was also too often negated by skill players in protection assignments. He needs to be more physical to play through contact and take a direct path to the quarterback.
Mondon has logged more than 425 snaps on special teams throughout his career, including 209 as a freshman. Mondon’s experience includes 100 punt coverage reps, 97 reps on punt return, 85 on kickoff, and 58 on kickoff return. He could serve as a core special teams player in addition to his role-specific opportunity on defense.
Ideal Scheme Fit, Role
Mondon Jr. projects as a developmental starter and a coverage linebacker in subpackage groups. His athleticism is evident, and it, along with his special teams background, affords him an immediate role to offer teams while he further develops his run-game instincts.
Grade: 72.00/100.00, Fourth Round Value
Big Board Rank: TBD
Position Rank: TBD
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