Kentucky senior linebacker Jamon “Pop” Dumas-Johnson has been named to the 2024 Comeback Player of the Year Award Watch List, as announced today by the College Sports Communicators (formerly CoSIDA) in partnership with The Associated Press (AP) and the Fiesta Bowl Organization.
Dumas-Johnson, a 6-foot-1, 245-pound inside linebacker hailing from Hyattsville, Maryland, transferred to Kentucky in 2024 after spending three seasons at the University of Georgia. During his time with the Bulldogs, he played in 38 games, contributing significantly to the team’s back-to-back national championships in 2021 and 2022.
Before his transfer, Dumas-Johnson had established himself as a key player for Georgia, starting in 24 consecutive games, including all nine contests in 2023. His season was cut short, however, when he suffered a broken left forearm (radius bone) during a victory over Missouri. Following surgery on November 7, 2023, Dumas-Johnson missed the remainder of the season and subsequently transferred to Kentucky in January 2024. He made his return to action on March 19, 2024, participating in the Wildcats’ spring practice.
Prior to his injury, Dumas-Johnson recorded 34 tackles, 5.5 tackles for loss, 3.5 sacks, two pass breakups, and a quarterback hurry. His impressive performance earned him spots on several national watch lists, including the Bronko Nagurski Trophy, the Butkus Award, and the Lombardi Award. He was also selected to the Associated Press Preseason All-America First Team and The Sporting News Preseason All-America First Team.
Dumas-Johnson had a standout season as a true sophomore at Georgia, becoming a finalist for the Butkus Award and earning First-Team All-American honors from Sporting News and ESPN.
As he enters the 2024 season with Kentucky, Dumas-Johnson boasts an impressive career stat line of 126 tackles, including 17 tackles for loss, 9.5 sacks, seven pass breakups, one interception, and one forced fumble.
The Comeback Player of the Year Award, established in 2018, honors college football student-athletes who have overcome injury, illness, or other challenging circumstances. At the conclusion of each season, a panel of college football writers, editors, and sports information directors vote to select three student-athletes as Comeback Player of the Year Award winners, who are recognized at the Vrbo Fiesta Bowl.
Previous winners of the Comeback Player of the Year Award include: 2023 – Blake Corum (Michigan); Jacob Dobbs (Holy Cross); Mike Hollins (Virginia); 2022 – Mohamed Ibrahim (Minnesota); Laiatu Latu (UCLA); Michael Penix Jr. (Washington); 2021 – Aidan Hutchinson (Michigan); McKenzie Milton (Florida State); J.J. Weaver (Kentucky); 2020 – Jarek Broussard (Colorado); Kenneth Horsey (Kentucky); Silas Kelly (Coastal Carolina); 2019 – Jake Luton (Oregon State); Drew Wilson (Georgia Southern); Octavion Wilson (Salisbury); 2018 – Antwan Dixon (Kent State), Seth Simmer (Dartmouth); Antonio Wimbush (Carson-Newman).