Smael Mondon Jr.’s parents have supported him in achieving his football dreams.
Mondon, a linebacker from Georgia, is projected to be a mid-round pick in the 2025 NFL draft.
Highlights
- Smael Mondon Jr. has been projected to be a mid-round pick in the 2025 NFL draft.
- He was born to his father, Smael Mondon Sr., and his mother, Dissa Mondon, in Dallas, Georgia, United States.
- Mondon has one brother and one sister whose identities have been kept private.
He is 6’2″ tall and weighs 229 pounds. His impressive 4.46-second 40-yard dash time highlights his speed and athleticism.
Mondon was invited to the Senior Bowl, which boosted his draft stock. Currently, he ranks as one of the top linebacker prospects, though most mock drafts place him in the third or fourth round.
Some analysts see his upside as a potential Day 2 selection, while others view him as a late-round pick.
His college stats include 57 tackles, three sacks, and notable coverage skills. He could climb draft boards if he tests well at the NFL Combine and Pro Day.
As a true freshman at Georgia in 2021, he played in all 15 games as a backup, recording 10 tackles and one sack. He took over as a starter in his sophomore year in 2022.
In 2024, Smael Mondon was arrested on charges of reckless driving and racing and released on a $26 bond. An arrest report obtained by the AJC alleges Mondon was racing Georgia teammate DeMello Jones along Broad Street in Athens.
Police stated that Mondon was going 75 miles per hour in a 40-mile-per-hour zone. The report states that Mondon denied he was racing and did not know Jones.
Smael Simon Mondon Jr.’s Parents Are From The Ivory Coast, West Africa
Smael Simon Mondon Jr., 36, was born on February 13, 2003, in Dallas, Georgia, United States, to his father, Smael Mondon Sr., and his mother, Dissa Mondon.
Smael Jr. is proud to share his father’s name and is still driven by his parents’ journey and hard work.
His parents are from the Ivory Coast (Cote D’Ivoire), West Africa; growing up, Smael’s first languages were French and English, making him bilingual.
His father, Smael Mondon Sr., immigrated to the United States from Africa in 1990 for better opportunities.
Therefore, Smael and his family are of African American ethnicity and American nationality.
As per the source, he worked tirelessly, taking on multiple jobs, including driving a taxi in New York City and working at gas stations and restaurants while attending college.
Smael Sr. and Dissa eventually moved from New York to Georgia, prioritizing their children’s future.
However, Smael Jr.’s parents have avoided social media, so only limited information about their personal lives is available.
Smael has a close bond with his grandmother, who lives in the Ivory Coast. On her birthday, he honored her by committing to UGA as she watched via livestream.
During the interview, Smael said that was his mother’s idea. He was trying to find a day to commit, and she suggested doing it on his grandmother’s birthday.
Smael Modnon Jr Grew Up With His Two Siblings
Additionally, Smael Jr. grew up playing football with his two siblings. His older brother and sister graduated from Georgia State University.
However, his siblings have also managed to stay away from social media.
Clemson’s starting running back, Phil Mafah, 22, is his cousin.
Mafah attended Grayson High School in Loganville, Georgia. During his career, he had 2,526 rushing yards and 37 touchdowns.
He committed to Clemson University to play college football on August 29, 2019.
Additional Information
- Smael Mondon Jr attended Paulding County High School in Dallas, Georgia. A five-star recruit, he played in the 2021 All-American Bowl.
- In 2022, he played in 13 of 15 games, staring at LB in all 13, and led the team in tackles with 76 total stops despite missing two games because of injury.
- He appeared in 10 games in 2024, making eight starts, and ranked seventh on the team in total tackles of 57.
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