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
- Jamaree Salyer (Jr.)
- 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
- Ben Cleveland (RSr.)
- 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
- Trey Hill (Jr.)
- 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
- Justin Shaffer (Sr.)
- 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
- Xavier Truss (RFr.)
- Warren McClendon (RFr.)
- 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.
