Report: Georgia loses starting OL for rest of season

Tate Ratledge done for the year.

Georgia will be without starting offensive lineman Tate Ratledge for the remainder of the 2021 season, per a Facebook post from the redshirt freshman’s mother.

Ratledge injured his foot very early in Saturday night’s win over Clemson and had to be taken to the locker room via cart after being helped to the sideline.

He will undergo surgery for a lisfranc ligament injury, per Marc Weiszer of OnlineAthens.com.

Ratledge, a 4-star recruit in the class of 2020 out of Darlington School in Rome, Georgia, was making his first career start and playing in his second career game.

“Thank you to everyone for the thoughts and prayers! I’ll be back! #GoDawgs Romans 5:3-5,” the 6-foot-6, 320-pound Ratledge tweeted.

Junior Warren Ericson checked in to fill in for Ratledge.

Ratledge was later seen wearing a boot on the sideline.

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Kirby Smart releases Georgia depth chart for Clemson game

Kirby Smart releases Georgia depth chart for Clemson game

Shortly ahead of Georgia’s top-five battle against Clemson on Saturday night, UGA head coach Kirby Smart released the first official depth chart of the 2021 season.

Let’s take a look:

Four Georgia players earn Walter Camp preseason All-America honors

Four Georgia football players were named to a Walter Camp preseason All-America team.

The Georgia Bulldogs placed four players on the Walter Camp preseason All-America second team that was recently released.

Georgia returns loads of talent this season and has hopes of winning the not only the SEC Championship but the College Football Playoff as well.

Though no Bulldogs earned first team honors, four Dawgs found themselves on the second team, including a Bulldog special teamer.

Here are the four Bulldogs who made the second team.

Georgia RB coach Dell McGee on UGA’s loaded backfield

Georgia RB coach Dell McGee compares UGA’s loaded backfield to that of 2017, when Nick Chubb and Sony Michel were playing for the Bulldogs.

Georgia is at it again, returning yet another load backfield for the 2021 season.

Zamir White, James Cook, Kendall Milton, Kenny McIntosh, Daijun Edwards and 2021 early enrollee Lovasea Carroll all project to share the ball this season, resulting in another year of RBU going strong.

Right now, no single player is expected to shoulder the load, said Georgia running back coach Dell McGee on a Tuesday Zoom session.

“We don’t necessarily play seniority with any of our players, that’s why we have offseason workouts and spring ball.”

“A lot of our evaluation and setting of the depth chart will come from how they perform day in and day out leading up to the spring game. It’s a constant battle with our guys at the running back position.”

Last season, though, it was White who led the way in carries, yards and touchdowns.

Georgia running back stats (2020):

Zamir White: 144 carries, 779 yards, 11 touchdowns

James Cook: 45 carries, 303 yards, 3 touchdowns

Kenny McIntosh: 47 carries, 251 yards, 1 touchdown

Daijun Edwards: 37 carries, 218 yards, 1 touchdown

Kendall Milton: 35 carries, 193 yards, 0 touchdowns

Georgia’s running back battle will be exciting to follow this offseason with so much returning star power. McGee went as far as to compare the return of White and Cook to that of Nick Chubb and Sony Michel in 2017.

“It’s very similar to the situation when Sony Michel and Nick Chubb came back,” McGee said. “From a team standpoint, they want to do more and they feel like they are a part of that and part of the success that we can have.

Younger guys, like D’Adre Swift, seized the opportunity to learn from Michel and Chubb, and this year’s youngsters should take every chance they get to study and emulate Cook and White.

“I think it’s a good situation for our younger running backs and our younger players because they offer a lot of leadership mentally and physically on how to perform, how to practice and how to take care of their bodies.”

They have to treat this offseason and spring practice like it’s a brand new season,” McGee said.

They have to be eager to learn, eager to get better, eager to improve their skills because all of our players have weaknesses that they need to work on and that needs to be a point of emphasis and that starts with me making sure they’re detailed in what they need to improve on.”

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Georgia Bulldogs make 247Sports’ list of top-10 CFB defenses for 2021

The Georgia Bulldogs made 247Sports’ list of the top-10 projected CFB defenses for 2021

Georgia’s defense took a step back in 2020 after a phenomenal 2019 season in which the group ranked top-five in the FBS in nearly every category.

Last season, though, the Dawgs just seemed soft on defense, especially when it came to the passing game. After ranking 31st in the nation in 2019, Georgia’s passing defense ranked 88th last year, giving up 248.7 passing yards per game. Georgia’s rush defense, however, has now ranked No. 1 in the nation in back-to-back seasons, giving up an average of just 73.4 yards per game on the ground over the last two years.

And that has to be what led to 247Sports projecting Georgia to have one of college football’s top-10 defenses in 2021. Seeing as how Georgia loses Richard LeCounte, Mark Webb, Eric Stokes, Tyson Campbell, DJ Daniel and Tyrique Stevenson, I would not expect the passing defense to improve all that much.

On Georgia’s 2021 defense, 247 wrote:

Labeled the ‘alpha male’ on Georgia’s defense, nose tackle Jordan Davis has a chance to be the SEC’s top interior defensive lineman this fall. He’s that good. Behind Davis in the middle of the defense at linebacker is perhaps the Bulldogs’ top individual position unit. Upperclassmen Nakobe Dean, Adam Anderson, Quay Walker and Nolan Smith are the projected starters and each brings tenacity to the field. Dean led this defense in tackles last season and should do so again in 2021 if he stays healthy. He’s a player with a nose for the football and moves effortlessly at the position.

Look at this block by Georgia TE Darnell Washington vs Auburn

Georgia football TE Darnell Washington absolutely destroyed an Auburn defender during the UGA vs AU game Saturday.

Darnell Washington was a five-star recruit coming out of Las Vegas in the class of 2020.

He showed why Saturday night vs Auburn when he absolutely demolished an Auburn defender as Zamir White walked in for a one-yard score.

Washington did not record a catch like he did the week before, but the 6-foot-7, 260 pounder still made his presence known.

 

Here, running back Kendall Milton had a great run but look at the help he gets from Washington, who starts at the top of the line and works his way across to take the Auburn defender out of the play.

Still don’t believe that Washington is the truth? Look what he did do this poor Razorback the week before.

Georgia fans all want to see Washington receive some more targets in the passing game, but when you look at what he’s doing on the line of scrimmage  you’ll see the value he’s providing early in his college career. The targets will come. Georgia coaches know they have a special talent on their hands.

Georgia football depth chart for Game 1 at Arkansas

Full Georgia football depth chart ahead of Week 1 matchup at Arkansas.

Georgia’s depth chart has been released just minutes before the 2020 season kickoff.

The Dawgs are on the road for game one against the Arkansas Razorbacks.

Kickoff is scheduled for 4:00 p.m. EST on SEC Network.

Here is a complete look at Georgia’s depth chart for Week One.

OFFENSE:

QB:

  • D’Wan Mathis
  • Stetson Bennett
  • Carson Beck
  • J.T. Daniels (not cleared)

WR:

  • George Pickens
  • Marcus Rosemy-Jacksaint

LT:

  • Jamaree Salyer
  • Xavier Truss

LG:

  • Justin Shaffer
  • Clay Webb

C:

  • Trey Hill
  • Warren Ericson
  • Sedrick Van Pran

RG:

  • Ben Cleveland
  • Warren Ericson
  • Netori Johnson

RT:

  • Owen Condon
  • Warren McClendon

TE:

  • John Fitzpatrick
  • Tre’ McKitty
  • Darnell Washington

TB:

  • James Cook
  • Zamir White
  • Kenny McIntosh
  • Daijun Edwards
  • Kendall Milton

WR:

  • Kearis Jackson
  • Demetris Robertson

WR:

  • Jermaine Burton
  • Matt Landers
  • Jaylen Johnson

 

DEFENSE:

DT:

  • Devonte Wyatt
  • Julian Rochester
  • Warren Brinson

NOSE:

  • Jordan Davis
  • Tymon Mitchell
  • Jalen Carter

DE:

  • Malik Herring
  • Travon Walker
  • Tramel Walthour

SAM:

  • Jermaine Johnson
  • Nolan Smith

JACK:

  • Azeez Ojulari
  • Adam Anderson

MONEY:

  • Monty Rice
  • Quay Walker
  • Rian Davis

MAC:

  • Nakobe Dean
  • Channing Tindall

LC:

  • DJ Daniel
  • Tyson Campbell

SS:

  • Richard LeCounte
  • Christopher Smith

FS:

  • Lewis Cine
  • Major Burns

RC:

  • Eric Stokes
  • Ameer Speed
  • Jalen Kimber

STAR:

  • Mark Webb
  • Tyrique Stevenson

 

SPECIALISTS:

P:

  • Jake Camarda
  • Bill Rubright

PK/KO:

  • Jack Podlesny
  • Jared Zirkel

SN:

  • Payne Walker
  • William Mote

H:

  • Jake Camarda
  • Stetson Bennett

KOR:

  • Kenny McIntosh
  • Jermaine Burton
  • Tyrique Stevenson

PR:

  • Kearis Jackson
  • Jermaine Burton
  • Tyrique Stevenson

Watch: Georgia OL Jamaree Salyer puts in offseason work, Kirby Smart reacts

UGA football OL Jamaree Salyer has slimmed down and is putting in offseason work. Georgia Bulldogs head coach Kirby Smart reacted on Twitter

Jamaree Salyer, Georgia’s projected starter at right tackle in 2020, has been busy putting in offseason work.

Salyer committed to Georgia as a five-star prospect in the class of 2018 out of Pace Academy in Atlanta, Georgia. In two seasons, he’s seen action in 26 games. With the departure of four starters off of last season’s offensive line, Salyer will be expected to be a leader on the line next season.

When he signed with Georgia, he checked in at 342 pounds. According to this tweet he is now down to 315.

The tweet was posted by Big Dawgs Club, an offensive lineman training program.

Salyer’s new look caught the eye of Kirby Smart, who responded to the tweet. Big Dawgs Club responded to Kirby’s tweet and said that Salyer will report back to UGA at 308 pounds.

See the thread below:

 

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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.

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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.