The annual East-West Shrine Game provides a unique platform for college players to showcase their abilities in front of NFL scouts from all 32 teams. The game has been a stage for future NFL legends, including Tom Brady, Walter Payton, and John Elway. More recent NFL stars such as Brock Purdy and Zay Flowers also participated in this game. This year, Jamon Dumas-Johnson from the University of Kentucky will represent the Wildcats, hoping to boost his NFL prospects and help add another linebacker to the league from Kentucky.
Jamon wasted no time making an impression during the practices leading up to the game. He intercepted a pass from Syracuse QB Kyle McCord and returned it for a touchdown, showcasing his playmaking ability. Before joining Kentucky, Jamon was a two-time national champion and a first-team All-American at UGA. He decided to withdraw from the draft and transfer to Kentucky for his senior year, where he joined Brad White’s defense, hoping to contribute to a strong season for the Cats.
Jamon Dumas-Johnson
Many had high hopes for Johnson as a key figure on what was expected to be another dominant Kentucky defense, and there was optimism he could help lead the team to its ninth consecutive bowl game. However, Kentucky’s 2024 season turned out to be disappointing, as they finished with a 4-8 record, breaking their bowl streak and leaving Big Blue Nation frustrated. This wasn’t the season Johnson had envisioned when he transferred to Kentucky, as the team struggled throughout the year.
Despite the team’s overall lack of success, Johnson managed to put together some solid individual performances. He finished the season with 67 total tackles (39 solo, 28 assists), marking the second-highest tackle total of his career. Additionally, he recorded 3.5 sacks. One of his standout performances came against Tennessee in Knoxville, where he racked up 14 total tackles, including 7 solo tackles, and had a sack, proving his ability to perform under pressure.
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