The Georgia offensive line should be a team strength in 2024. The Bulldogs return experienced seniors in Tate Ratledge and Xavier Truss, who both could have entered the NFL draft.
Georgia did lose center Sedrick Van Pran and right tackle Amarius Mims to the NFL draft. Van Pran’s experience and consistency will be tough to replace. Georgia got a taste of life without Amarius Mims throughout the 2023 season because he missed several weeks with an ankle injury.
Ultimately, Georgia returns three starters from its offensive line and should have one of the best offensive line units in the country. Georgia’s offensive line returns an impressive amount of depth, so the Bulldogs have several good options in the event a starter suffers an injury. In recent seasons, Georgia has rotated the offensive line to keep players fresh.
What five players do we project to start along Georgia’s offensive line entering spring practice? Who are Georgia’s top depth options behind the starters?
Left tackle: Earnest Greene (starter)
Year: Redshirt Sophomore
Earnest Greene made the freshman All-American team for his efforts in 2023. Greene redshirted in 2022 due to a back injury.
2023 stats: 14 starts
Left tackle: Monroe Freeling (depth)
Year: Sophomore
Freeling has the talent to push Earnest Greene for the starting role at left tackle. Freeling, a former four-star recruit, will likely see a decent amount of snaps in 2024, especially with Chad Lindberg transferring.
2023 stats: Eight games played
Left guard: Dylan Fairchild (starter)
Year: Redshirt junior
Fairchild is Georgia’s best left guard in passing situations. However, Micah Morris is a better run blocker, so the two players rotate a fair amount. Pro Football Focus ranks Fairchild as one of the nation’s top returning offensive guards.
2023 stats: 13 games played, nine starts
Left guard: Micah Morris (depth)
Year: Junior
As mentioned, if Georgia is looking for run push, then the Bulldogs tend to play Micah Morris over Dylan Fairchild. Morris should also be considered Georgia’s primary back-up right guard.
2023 stats: 14 games played
Center: Jared Wilson (starter)
Year: Redshirt Junior
Jared Wilson replaces the SEC’s best offensive lineman from 2023 in Sedrick Van Pran. Wilson will see a bunch of snaps this spring. Developing his ability to identify blitzes will be key for the Georgia offensive line.
2023 stats: 14 games played
Center: Drew Bobo (depth)
Year: Redshirt Sophomore
Drew Bobo played in six games after redshirting as a true freshman. Bobo is not expected to see many snaps this fall at a position outside of center.
2023 stats: six games played
Right guard: Tate Ratledge (starter)
Year: Redshirt Senior
Ratledge is a preseason All-American candidate. His return for another year in Athens means that Georgia should have one of the nation’s best offensive lines again in 2024.
2023 stats: 13 games started
Right guard: Kelton Smith (depth)
Boooom! Go Dawgs 🗣
4⭐️ OL Kelton Smith commits to Georgia
Home Grown Dawg🐶 pic.twitter.com/7LXJV0qTCL
— 🚫 LEE Ring (@HBTFD1) July 22, 2022
Year: Redshirt Freshman
Truthfully, Georgia would likely start Micah Morris in the event one of the offensive guards on Georgia’s roster suffers an injury. However, if Georgia has two injuries at offensive guard, then we project Kelton Smith to start. However, Georgia could shuffle things around and play a back-up tackle at offensive guard or even shift Xavier Truss to right guard.
2023 stats: zero games played
Right tackle: Xavier Truss (starter)
Year: Redshirt Senior
Xavier Truss is another Dawg on the offensive front that elected to return for another season at Georgia instead of entering the 2024 NFL draft. Truss, who is quite experienced, has the versatility to play inside at offensive guard. Truss has also started at left tackle.
2023 stats: 12 starts
Right tackle: Bo Hughley (depth)
Year: Redshirt Freshman
With Chad Lindberg entering the transfer portal, Georgia will turn to Bo Hughley and Monroe Freeling as depth at right tackle. Hughley did not see much action in 2023, but is a former four-star recruit.
Other Georgia offensive linemen to know
- Redshirt freshman Jamal Meriweather
- True freshman Daniel Calhoun (four-star recruit)
- True freshman Michael Uini (four-star recruit)
- True freshman Marques Easley (four-star recruit)
- True freshman Nyier Daniels (four-star recruit)
- True freshman Malachi Toliver (three-star recruit)
- True freshman Marcus Harrison (three-star recruit)
