Georgia football lost 41% of its production from the National Championship team, including two starting spots along the offensive line.
Second team All-SEC selections Jamaree Salyer and Justin Shaffer are moving on to the NFL, which means new offensive line coach Stacy Searels has a couple of glaring holes to fill before the Bulldogs kick off versus Oregon in Atlanta on Sept. 3.
One of the Dawgs fighting for one of those starting spots at left tackle and left guard is junior Xavier Truss.
Truss (6-foot-7, 330 pounds) started at left tackle in Georgia’s 2020 Peach Bowl win over Cincinnati and played 64 snaps in a win at Tennessee last season.
The Rhode Island native knows the opportunity that’s in front of him as the Bulldogs grind through spring practice.
“Obviously it’s going to be a very important spring, summer and even fall,” Truss told media. “I think as long as I’m playing to the best of my ability and collectively I think as long as we’re playing as a unit, the best five will be out there.”
I’m really happy how things worked out with the relationships I built with my three offensive line coaches and coach Smart over these past three years. It’s just been amazing — an amazing journey.”
Truss will be battling with Freshman All-SEC selection Broderick Jones, who played well versus Alabama in the title game, and senior Warren McClendon, who started at right tackle last season.
We will know who’s trending in the right direction when the Dawgs take the field for the annual G-Day spring game on April 16.