By Tony Thomas
Kentucky landed a 2-time national champion linebacker, and Lane Kiffin continued his mastery of finding talented football players in the portal. Here we profile the top linebacker commitments in this portal cycle.
LB Jamon Dumas-Johnson
Kentucky Wildcats (from Georgia)
6’1”, 235 lbs.
A 2022 All-American selection by the Sporting News, Jamon Dumas-Johnson was considered one of the top linebackers in college football in 2023. However, Dumas-Johnson played in only nine games last season for the Georgia Bulldogs due to a broken forearm suffered vs Missouri.
https://twitter.com/7RoundsInHeaven/status/1710815804793471233
Dumas-Johnson racked up 34 tackles, 5.5 tackles for loss, and 3.5 sacks. His season high was seven tackles in the Missouri game. A two-time national champion with the Bulldogs, Dumas-Johnson has 125 tackles, 17 tackles for loss, and 9.5 sacks in college career.
LB Jaishawn Barham
Michigan Wolverines (from Maryland)
6’2”, 230 lbs.
A talented linebacker with NFL potential, Jaishawn Barham moves to the Wolverines to play for new head coach Sherrone Moore, who replaces Jim Harbaugh. Barham made 37 tackles last season, in addition to three tackles for loss, one INT, and three quarterback pressures last season. He is aggressive in the run game with a high-speed motor.
https://twitter.com/MaizeCrusader/status/1737530218816917998
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Barhan has good closing speed and will arrive at the ball carrier in a bad mood and will most assuredly make the tackle. In two seasons with the Terrapins, Barham recorded 95 tackles, seven sacks, and 9.5 tackles for loss to his credit.
LB Chris Paul, Jr.
Ole Miss Rebels (from Arkansas)
6’1”, 235 lbs.
After a freshman All-American season in 2022, Chris Paul, Jr. was 2nd on the Razorbacks team in tackles last season with 74. He recorded a season-high 12 tackles against Mississippi State in a 7-3 loss. In addition, Paul, Jr. recorded 6.5 tackles for loss and two sacks. In three seasons with the Razorbacks, Paul, Jr. posted 136 tackles, 14 tackles for loss, and six sacks.
https://twitter.com/WAOM_/status/1751666627395867014
LB Tackett Curtis
Wisconsin Badgers (from USC)
6’2”, 225 lbs.
Playing his freshman season at USC, Tackett Curtis racked up 40 tackles, four tackles for loss, two sacks, a forced fumble, and a fumble return. Curtis played Ironman football his senior year at Many (La.) High School, starring on offense as well as defense.
https://twitter.com/pac12/status/1706399422295286217
On the defensive side, Curtis totaled 112 tackles, 16 tackles for loss, six sacks, and three INTs. On offense, Curtis rushed for 1,115 yards and 11 touchdowns, including two in the state championship game, on his way to being named the MaxPreps Louisiana High School Player of the Year. In my opinion, Curtis should have been named Louisiana’s Mr. Football, but that award went to a kid named Arch Manning.
https://www.instagram.com/p/p:C2yDYEcv3hE
LB Bryun Parham
Washington Huskies (from San Jose State)
6’1”, 210 lbs.
With 106 tackles last season, Bryun Parham was snubbed for All-MWC honors. In addition, Parham made five tackles for loss, 2.5 sacks, and intercepted a pass. Parham recorded four games of double-digit tackles, including three in a row. He recorded season-highs of 12 tackles against both Boise State and Coastal Carolina.
San Jose State transfer linebacker Bryun Parham @bryun7 has committed to the Huskies according to his Instagram! pic.twitter.com/YW4MLTZkJU
— Matt Steinlein (@life_of_stein) January 28, 2024
