Georgia defensive lineman JJ Hanne has taken an uncommon path to the SEC.
The sophomore grew up in Berlin, Germany, and eventually earned a scholarship from Georgia after a brief summer workout. Now, he is becoming a steady contributor on a defense that continues to build depth.
“JJ is a wonderful kid,” Georgia head coach Kirby Smart said on Monday. “He is one of the most positive, optimistic, hardest-working players we have. He never walks on the field discouraged.”
Hanne has appeared in all four games this season, recording six tackles while rotating along Georgia’s defensive front. He said he approaches each day intending to meet the standard set by the Bulldogs’ defensive linemen over the last decade.
“Being here is a great opportunity,” Hanne said. “I am just trying to meet the Georgia standard every day because there have been a lot of great defensive linemen here.”
A long road from Berlin
Hanne grew up playing soccer and flag football before getting the opportunity to move to California and play full-contact football. Convincing his mother to let him go was the first challenge.
“I begged her,” Hanne said. “She asked if I really wanted to do it, and I told her yes. She made me promise I would never quit.”
Once in California, Hanne trained with a private defensive line coach to learn the position and later joined Brandon Collier’s international college tour, which connects overseas prospects with college programs.
Hanne also played high school football at Santa Margarita Catholic in Rancho Santa Margarita, California. He developed into a three-star prospect before ultimately landing at Georgia.
The Bulldogs offered Hanne a scholarship after a workout on May 30, 2024. The staff was impressed with his 6-foot-4, 290-pound frame and natural athleticism.
“I remember watching the 2022 national championship and telling my family I wanted to play at Georgia,” Hanne said. “After the workout, I knew I wanted to come here.”
Adjusting to life in Athens
Hanne said his first true culture shock came during Georgia’s spring G-Day scrimmage. He had never experienced an SEC atmosphere before and was surprised to see so many fans show up to watch the Bulldogs play a spring game.
“It felt movie-like,” Hanne said. “Seeing the turnout and how big game day really is.”
Despite the distance between Athens and Germany, Hanne remains connected to his family through daily calls and videos.
“Mom gets worried because she cannot see me as much,” Hanne said. “I send her videos of my day to make her feel part of it.”
Still developing
Despite the strides he has made at Georgia, Hanne said he is far from finished. He wants to continue improving his technique and becoming a more complete defensive lineman.
Smart said Hanne’s perspective and maturity have helped him grow quickly on the field. Those traits, along with Hanne’s consistency in practice and ability to handle challenges, give Smart confidence he will keep developing.
“His experience in life puts him ahead of other kids who might take this for granted,” Smart said.
Georgia hosts Vanderbilt on Saturday at Sanford Stadium, and Hanne is expected to continue rotating along a defensive front that has helped the Bulldogs open the season 4-0.
Hanne still has plenty of room to grow.
“I think I am still at the beginning,” Hanne said. “I want to be a great defensive lineman overall. Better against the run, better with my strike, better as a pass rusher.”
Georgia defensive lineman JJ Hanne has taken an uncommon path to the SEC.
