Tag: ben cleveland

Matchup between Alabama, Georgia will feature handful of potential Chargers prospects

Nine prospects from the matchup between Alabama and Georgia could appeal to the Los Angeles Chargers.

The weekend is near which means that there will be plenty of football to soak in.

For Chargers fans, this would be a good time to catch some of the college football action on Saturday. One, the team is on their bye week. Two, a handful of them are already looking towards the future with Los Angeles sitting at 1-4.

One of the marquee matchups that’ll be featured is between Alabama and Georgia, which will start at 5:00 p.m. and will be televised on CBS. The showdown between the Crimson Tide and Bulldogs will have a large grip of players who the Bolts could have their eyes on.

Let’s take a look at who could be drawing the team’s attention:

Alabama

CB Patrick Surtain

Surtain is touted as one of the top corners in this year’s draft class. The 6-foot-2 and 205 pounder has been lockdown, only allowing three catches for 38 yards this season. Surtain is a long, smooth athlete who has impressive instincts and ball skills. He could afford to get more involved in the run game, but overall, he has the makeup of an All-Pro cornerback.

Projected Round: Top-10

OT Alex Leatherwood

Leatherwood, the 6-foot-5 and 313 pounder, has made 31 starts so far for the Crimson Tide with 13 of them coming at right guard in 2018. Leatherwood is an excellent pass protector who possesses great size, length and physicality to grow into a very reliable tackle or guard at the next level.

Projected Round: 1st

WR Jaylen Waddle

Speed kills. Waddle, the 5-foot-10 and 182 pounder, is a pass-catcher with elite phone booth quicks and legitimate breakaway speed to threaten a defense vertically. He can line up all across the formation as well as serve as a return man.

Projected Round: 1st

WR DeVonta Smith

While Smith may not have the track speed like Waddle, the 6-foot and 172 pounders plays with a well-rounded route tree, excellent footwork, and brings the separation tactics to thrive at the next level. Through four seasons, Smith has 2,425 yards and 25 touchdowns.

Projected Round: 1st-2nd

CB Josh Jobe

Surtain is the No. 1 corner but opposite of him is another player who has proven to put the clamps on receivers. Jobe, who leads the team in passes defensed (3), has good length and size at 6-foot-1 and 190 pounds, reactive athleticism and ball skills.

Projected Round: 3rd-4th

Georgia

CB Tyson Campbell

Campbell, the 6-foot-2 and 185 pounder, is a physically gifted and reactive athlete with great length that possesses speed, excellent closing speed and instincts. Through three games, he has three passes defensed.

Projected Round: 1st-2nd 

CB Eric Stokes

Stokes has been a ball magnet for the Bulldogs, totaling three interceptions and four passes defensed through the first three games. He now has 18 passes defended over his first two seasons. The 6-foot-1 and 185 pounder has the prototypical build for the position with speed, physicality and plus coverage ability.

Projected Round: 2nd

CB DJ Daniel

Overlooked due to the presences of Campbell and Stokes, Daniel, the 6-foot and 182 pounder, is a sub-package ace who is quick and agile with very good mirroring skills. In 2019, the JUCO transfer had eight passes defensed.

Projected Round: 2nd-3rd

G Ben Cleveland

Cleveland’s continuity has helped a partly revamped offensive line after three were drafted in this past draft. The 6-foot-6 and 342 pounder is a solid all-around interior lineman with proven durability and experience who is a strong blocker in the run game and has good awareness in pass protection. Most recently, Cleveland helped allow Georgia’s running backs to go for 202 rushing yards and two touchdowns on 45 carries last weekend against Auburn.

Projected Round: 3rd-4th

Georgia players ‘should be banned’ for chop block against Tennessee

Georgia players ‘should be banned’ for chop block against Tennessee.

ATHENS — Tennessee (2-1, 2-1 SEC) saw its eight-game winning streak end Saturday at Georgia (3-0, 3-0 SEC).

The Bulldogs defeated Tennessee, 44-21, in Week 3 of a 10-game SEC-only schedule.

During the early stages of the third quarter, Georgia was called for a chop block penalty against Tennessee’s defensive lineman Elijah Simmons.

The play has created discussion if chop block penalties should be treated equally as targeting calls.

On 2nd and 10 for Georgia on Tennessee’s 15-yard line, with 13 minutes, 34 seconds remaining in the third quarter, Bulldogs’ center Trey Hill and right guard Ben Cleveland blocked low, while rolling, against Simmons. Georgia was penalized for a chop block personal foul.

Daniel Hood (AP Photo/Dave Martin)

Former Tennessee defensive lineman Daniel Hood discussed Georgia’s chop block penalty in Saturday’s game.

“I do not think chop blocks are bad when they are straight on,” Hood told Vols Wire. “I think they are criminal when they come in at an angle like they did in Georgia’s case against Tennessee. If they roll after the chop, again, what happened at Georgia, they should be banned.

“The coach should be fined for teaching it that way, as a lot of coaches teach to roll, as well.”

During Hood’s playing career at Tennessee (2009-13), he experienced a chop block against him.

“I had one against me, and to this day, my patella tendon is still partially torn,” Hood said.

ATHENS, GEORGIA – OCTOBER 10: Trey Hill #55 of the Georgia Bulldogs strips the ball away from Jaylen McCollough #22 of the Tennessee Volunteers during the second half at Sanford Stadium on October 10, 2020 in Athens, Georgia. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)

2020 CFB countdown: 50 days until Georgia football

Join us as we count down the days until Georgia kicks off Sept. 7!

There are 50 days until Georgia is scheduled to kick off versus Virginia in Atlanta on Sept. 7

Georgia guard, No. 50, Warren Ericson is a redshirt sophomore from Suwanee, Georgia.

In 2019, Ericson saw action in six games and started at right guard against Baylor in the Sugar Bowl. Part of Georgia’s 2017 No. 1 ranked recruiting class, Ericson was rated as the No. 12 guard and the No. 5 center out of North Gwinnett High School.

Because of former Georgia guard Cade May’s transfer to Tennessee and Ben Cleveland’s history of injuries, Ericson should see plenty of game time in 2020.

See our projected 2020 offensive depth chart here.

UGA football player card: OL Ben Cleveland

Georgia Bulldogs offensive lineman Ben Cleveland is among the most experienced returning members of UGA’s talented offensive front.

Ben Cleveland, Offensive Line (#74):

Class: Senior

Height: 6-6

Weight: 335 pounds

Hometown: Toccoa, Georgia

High School: Stephens County High School

Georgia Bulldogs offensive lineman Ben Cleveland is among the most experienced returning members of UGA’s talented offensive front. Cleveland has played in 36 total games over his three seasons in Georgia. Cleveland redshirted as a freshman back in 2016. Cleveland started at right guard in seven games last season.

Cleveland will be the strongest player on Georgia’s team next season. He’s a player to watch at the 2021 NFL Combine. Cleveland is a freak athlete and will be worth watching on the bench press, where he should crush it.

Cleveland will compete with Xavier Truss, Jamaree Salyer, Warren Ericson, Justin Shaffer, Warren McClendon, Broderick Jones, and more for a starting role in 2020. Fans should expect Cleveland to be a starter next season. The main question is where?

Georgia Bulldogs offensive line coach Matt Luke isn’t short on talent despite losing three players to the 2020 NFL Draft. Cleveland will help Georgia fill in the experience lost from last season. He missed the 2020 Sugar Bowl against Baylor due to academic issues, but he gave the Dawgs a big boost with his return for his senior season.

[lawrence-auto-related count=1]

CFN ranks top-five Georgia offensive players for 2020 season

College football News ranked the top-five Georgia offensive players for the 2020 season.

Pete Fiutak of College Football News recently previewed the Georgia Bulldogs for the upcoming 2020 season and ranked UGA’s top-five offensive players. 

Here’s how he ranked them:

1. WR George Pickens

On Pickens, Fiutak said:

The 6-3, 190-pounder has the size, the speed, and the next-level talent to become a volume-catcher along with a deep threat. Decent throughout last year, he failed to come up with a 100-yard game until the Sugar Bowl win over Baylor, ripping it up with 12 catches for 175 yards and one score.

Pages: Page 1, Page 2, Page 3, Page 4, Page 5

CFB analyst Cole Cubelic high on Georgia OG Ben Cleveland

CFB analyst Cole Cubelic recently showed some love to Georgia football OG Ben Cleveland.

Georgia’s offensive line will look very different than it did last year after the Dawgs lost four starters from last year’s line.

Thankfully, Georgia does return redshirt senior Ben Cleveland, who is set to be a leader on Matt Luke’s new offensive line in Athens.

Cleveland came to Georgia as a five-star prospect in the class of 2016, and has 16 starts under his belt. He has appeared in 36 games, though.

Cole Cubelic of the SEC Network recently ranked Cleveland as the SEC’s third best returning offensive guard for the 2020 college football season.

Cleveland trailed only Tennessee’s Trey Smith and Alabama’s Deonte Brown.

 

 

This stat shows just how good Ben Cleveland has been for Georgia football

This stat shows just how good Georgia football OG Ben Cleveland has been during his time at UGA.

Georgia offensive lineman Ben Cleveland is heading into his fifth season with the Bulldogs.

Cleveland signed with Georgia as a five-star recruit in the class of 2016 out of Stephens County High School in Toccoa, Georgia. He committed with Jacob Eason in July of 2014.

After redshirting his freshman season, Cleveland has become one of Georgia’s most important offensive linemen during his time in Athens.

He’s started 16 games over the last three years, but projects to be a full-time starter this season after the departures of Andrew Thomas, Isaiah Wilson, Solomon Kindley and Cade Mays.

[lawrence-related id=25829]

And with Matt Luke taking over the offensive line following Sam Pittman leaving for the Arkansas job, Luke is in good hands with Cleveland on that line.

Per Brent Rollins of Pro Football Focus, Cleveland has not allowed a single sack or quarterback hit throughout his last 323 pass-blocking snaps. He’s also only allowed seven quarterback pressures.

The 6-foot-6, 335-pound offensive guard decided to stick around for one more season, noting that earning his degree is most important to him.

 

Projected 2020 Georgia football depth chart: Offensive line

Taking a look at Georgia football’s offensive line depth chart for 2020 after losing four starters from dominant group in 2019.

In 2019, Georgia had one of the best offensive lines in the country.

The unit ranked fifth in the country in run-blocking and fourth in pass-blocking according to PFF (Pro Football Focus).

Looking ahead to 2020, the Bulldogs will have almost an entirely new starting unit. Cade Mays transferred to Tennessee, Matt Luke replaced Sam Pittman as line-coach and the Dawgs lost All-American Andrew Thomas, Isaiah Wilson and Solomon Kindley to the NFL draft.

So, what will the protection look like in front of new quarterback Jamie Newman next season?

Right Tackle

  1. Jamaree Salyer (Jr.)
  2. Warren McClendon (RFr.)

Salyer is the most experienced option at right tackle for the Dawgs and although his size may be best fitted at guard, Slayer is athletic enough and played well against Baylor in the Sugar Bowl.

Right Guard 

  1. Ben Cleveland (RSr.)
  2. Warren Ericson (RSoph.)

Cleveland has the most experience of any Bulldog lineman and at 6-foot-7 340 pounds may be the strongest player on the entire roster. He missed the Sugar Bowl with academic issues and has had his fair share of problems with injuries, however, his power on the inside is one of the reasons UGA running backs averaged almost 3 yards before contact last season.

Center

  1. Trey Hill (Jr.)
  2. Clay Webb (RFr.)

At center, the key is experience. Hill’s first season at center in 2019 was definitely a learning experience. He struggled with snaps at times but towards the end of the season he showed improvement. Hill’s upside is his pad-level and power inside and as a defensive lineman you don’t want to get caught in a Trey Hill-Ben Cleveland double-team block that is for sure.

Left Guard 

  1. Justin Shaffer (Sr.)
  2. Clay Webb (RFr.)

Left guard is an educated guess. Shaffer played well in two games last year before his season was ended with a neck injury. He is expected to be healthy come fall, but we could possibly see a mix up in the middle positions among Shaffer, Hill, and talented redshirt freshman Clay Webb. Hill could possibly move over to left guard and Webb take over at center but we will know more whenever the Dawgs are cleared to practice.

Left Tackle

  1. Xavier Truss (RFr.)
  2. Warren McClendon (RFr.)
  3. Broderick Jones (Fr.)

The Bulldogs are losing one of the greatest lineman in Georgia history in Andrew Thomas, so the transition is going to be interesting. At 6-foot-7 330 pounds, Truss looks to be the best fit at the position. He saw minimal action in 2019 but he seems to move well and definitely will be hard to move off the spot.

Coaches still have many decisions to make on who will get the starting spots in Atlanta vs. Virginia, but keep an eye out for position battles when practice resumes and the Bulldogs start to find their identity for the 2020 season.

Which UGA o-lineman has most to gain this spring?

With so many starting spots available, who will offensive line coach Matt Luke turn to during his inaugural season in Athens?

Following the departure of former offensive line coach Sam Pittman, the new head coach at the University of Arkansas, multiple Bulldogs he recruited to the University of Georgia followed suit.

Tackle Isaiah Wilson, a redshirt sophomore, declared early for the NFL Draft. Fellow tackle and projected first round pick Andrew Thomas did as well following his junior season. Relatively surprisingly, guard Solomon Kindley made the same decision despite qualifying for a redshirt senior season.

Cade Mays, the first Georgia Bulldog since Jonas Jennings to play all five OL positions in red and black, transferred to Tennessee to play with his younger brother in Knoxville for their father’s alma mater.

Center Trey Hill and guard/tackle Ben Cleveland are the only holdovers to start on the Bulldogs’ offensive line. Both players are entering their final season of eligibility.

With so many starting spots available, who will offensive line coach Matt Luke turn to during his inaugural season in Athens?

Xavier Truss:

Assuming Ben Cleveland gets early reps at right tackle (if not right guard), the left tackle spot will be wide open and thus attainable for the redshirt freshman Truss. At six-foot-seven and 330 pounds, he’s got the length and mass necessary to protect right-handed grad transfer QB Jamie Newman’s blindside. Combine that with the motor and footwork necessary to facilitate outside run plays and he may just be the Dawgs’ best fit at LT.

Warren Ericson:

Following injuries and the several aforementioned early NFL Draft declarations, Ericson started at right guard in January’s Sugar Bowl win over Baylor. In 2020, the redshirt sophomore may have to rotate behind seniors Cleveland and Justin Shaffer at either of the guard positions, but can put himself in a good position to secure solid substitute reps before Cleveland and Shaffer exhaust their eligibility. Matt Luke clearly sees something in Ericson.

Warren McClendon:

The younger of the OL’s two Warrens, McClendon shares with Ericson ample opportunity to break into the starting lineup. With both tackle spots ripe for the taking, McClendon can compete with Truss at left tackle, but seems more suited for right tackle as his size. The cousin of former Georgia running back Bryan McClendon saw limited action in 2019 but has the skills and build to impose his will upon SEC defenders in 2020.

Justin Shaffer:

Shaffer has patiently waited his turn to start on the Bulldogs’ offensive line, and an untimely injury extended that timeline. He made his first career start against Tennessee and started every play of the game. In his start against South Carolina, a neck injury sidelined Shaffer for the remainder of the regular season. After having fully recovered from his injury, he’s deserved his time to show out in the trenches for the Dawgs and is expected to be a mainstay on Georgia’s 2020 offensive line.

Georgia can dominate the offensive trenches in 2020

The University of Georgia football team lost an abundance of talent in the offensive trenches this off-season.

Kirby Smart and the University of Georgia lost an abundance of talent in the trenches this off-season. Georgia is losing four starting offensive linemen from the 2019 season. Kirby Smart recruits aggressively so the Dawgs can reload and not rebuild.

Center Trey Hill will be the only returning start from 2019’s line. That doesn’t mean UGA will lack talent in 2020. The Bulldogs return numerous offensive linemen  (in addition to Hill) with valuable experience including: Justin Shaffer (now healthy), Ben Cleveland, and Jamaree Salyer. Georgia will need each of their experience in the week three trip to Tuscaloosa to face Nick Saban and the Alabama Crimson Tide.

In fact, Georgia’s returning linemen are among the best in the SEC, per PFF’s Brent Rollins:

Georgia will have three of the top-graded returning nine offensive linemen in the SEC. The Dawgs additionally added five-star offensive tackle Broderick Jones, four-star Tate Ratledge, top-rated center Sedrick Van Pran, four-star offensive tackle Chad Lindberg, and a pair of three-star linemen in the class of 2020.

One of the talented newcomers will likely work their way into the line-up, possibly two. Georgia also returns Warren Ericson, who started at right guard in the Sugar Bowl against Baylor, 2019 five-star center Clay Webb, Warren McClendon, Xavier Truss, Owen Condon, and more.

The biggest question mark for UGA is who will replace stud left tackle Andrew Thomas? That may be too big of an adjustment for five-star freshman Broderick Jones, but he’s the best bet to take over that position. Aside from left tackle, quality depth is the second biggest concern along Georgia’s offensive line. Kirby Smart will rely on new offensive line coach Matt Luke to get the most of the talented group.

[lawrence-auto-related count=1]