A Dozen and a Half Decisive ‘Dawgs: #14 Quintavius Johnson
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Quintavius Johnson took a major step forward in his first year as a full-time starter at outside linebacker for the Red and Black in 2025. The redshirt sophomore played and started all 14 games, finishing with 35 total tackles (21 solo), 6.0 tackles for loss, 2.0 sacks, a forced fumble, and 3 pass breakups.
Even better, his production was spread across the schedule rather than concentrated in a couple of standout games. Johnson showed out against Tennessee, Alabama, Auburn, and Mississippi State, where he notched a sack, a forced fumble, and a tackle for loss in the same outing. It was a steady, productive season that established him as a reliable piece of Georgia’s defense. Johnson justified the rave reviews coaches bestowed on him in fall camp, showing real growth in his ability to set the edge, shed blocks, and get after the quarterback. Just ask poor Ty Simpson.
Entering 2026, Johnson should retain a featured role in Georgia’s outside linebacker rotation. With the ‘Dawgs losing key front seven pieces to the NFL, including linebacker CJ Allen, the door is open for Johnson to become not just a primary edge rusher and every-down defender, but also a vocal veteran leader of the defense. He’ll be working alongside returning veterans like Raylen Wilson and Chris Cole, and is one of Georgia’s third-year players whose draft stock could take a significant jump this season.
At 6’4 and 255 pounds, he has the frame to hold up against the run while still offering the athleticism to win as a pass rusher, and Kirby Smart’s staff will likely lean on him to be more disruptive in obvious passing situations. If he can build on last year’s 6.0 tackles for loss and turn that into double-digit disruptive plays, he could emerge as one of the anchors of Glenn Schumann’s defense.
Johnson is not yet a household name in NFL Draft circles, but his combination of size, athletic testing history (he was clocked below 4.70 in the 40-yard dash coming out of high school and looks even quicker now) and increasing production puts him firmly on the radar for the 2027 NFL Draft cycle. He projects ann a true edge defender with room to add strength and refine his pass rush counters. A strong, featured 2026 season, particularly one with a jump in sacks and pressures, would likely push him into early-round conversations. For now, he profiles as a developmental but high-upside prospect whose stock hinges heavily on how much he can produce as a full-time featured rusher in Georgia’s 2026 defense. If he picks up where he left off in 2025, it would be a huge boost for an already loaded Bulldog defense.
Go ‘Dawgs!!!
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