Tag: uga offensive line

Former NFL scout says Georgia has ‘the best offensive line in college football’

Senior Bowl executive director Jim Nagy thinks that Georgia has the top offensive line in college football and will win a national title

Former NFL draft scout and Senior Bowl executive director Jim Nagy really likes what the Georgia Bulldogs are returning for the 2024 college football season. In fact, Nagy thinks Georgia will win another national championship this season.

“The more I watch Georgia’s tape, the more I think they’re winning another national title this year,” said Jim Nagy.  “It always starts up front and they’ve got the best offensive line in college football.”

Georgia returns four of five starters from last season along the offensive line. Georgia lost starting center Sedrick Van Pran to the 2024 NFL draft and are planning to replace him with Jared Wilson. Additionally, Georgia returns offensive guard Micah Morris, who gives Georgia an excellent depth option and shares snaps with guard Dylan Fairchild.

Georgia is expecting to see some improvements from redshirt sophomore left tackle Earnest Greene. Greene missed his first season in Athens due to injury, but is coming off a healthy offseason and started all 14 games last season. Georgia also returns right guard Tate Ratledge, who is expected to be a preseason All-American. At right tackle, the veteran Xavier Truss brings a great combination of experience and versatility.

UGA offensive line deserves credit for dominant season, CFP performance

The Georgia offensive line was superb in pass protection all season

The Georgia offensive line deserves a lot of credit for its role in helping the Bulldogs win back-to-back national championships. Last year, Broderick Jones stepped into the starting line up against Will Anderson and Alabama and helped turn the tide in Georgia’s 33-18 win.

This year, Georgia’s offensive front absolutely dominated TCU in the national championship. For a second straight year, Georgia leaned on a former five-star recruit, who had not been starting, in key moments throughout the College Football Playoff. In 2022, the Dawgs relied on Amarius Mims after the usual starting right tackle, Warren McClendon, suffered a knee injury in the SEC championship.

The 2022 Georgia offensive line was particularly effective as pass blockers. Broderick Jones, Xavier Truss, Sedrick Van Pran, Tate Ratledge, and company allowed just nine sacks in 15 games this season. In 2022, Georgia attempted 492 passes, which means that the Bulldogs allowed sacks on 1.8% of passing plays or approximately every 55 pass attempts.

PFF pointed out Georgia’s dominance against TCU and claims the Dawgs only allowed three pressures. Quarterback Stetson Bennett was barely touched in Georgia’s championship win.

Georgia’s offensive front gave Stetson Bennett just enough time to pass, despite being in obvious passing situations, in the Dawgs’ CFP semifinals win over Ohio State.

Georgia had its best offensive attack in a longtime (or maybe its best offense ever) thanks in large part to the offensive line. Georgia scored 44 rushing touchdowns and averaged 501.1 total yards per game in 2022.

The Great Wall of Georgia brought physicality, toughness, and a championship in the first year under offensive line coach Stacy Searles. Georgia’s quarterbacks stayed clean and were rarely flustered by the opposing pass rush.

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Projecting Georgia’s depth chart for interior offensive line

Projecting Georgia’s depth chart for interior offensive line. The Bulldogs return a lot of experience along the offensive line.

The Georgia Bulldogs are returning much more offensive line experience in 2021 than they did in 2020. Georgia has recruited along the offensive front at a high level in recent seasons.

Georgia has stacked talent at the offensive tackle and center positions. The Dawgs don’t have as many highly ranked offensive guard recruits, but that’s okay because veteran offensive guard Justin Shaffer decided to return for a fifth season in Athens.

Here’s who we project to start along the interior of Georgia’s offensive line:

4-star OL Elijah Prichett names UGA, Bama to top schools

Four-star OL Elijah Prichett plays football for Carver High School and is the top-ranked prospect in Georgia that remains uncommitted

The University of Georgia has offered a scholarship to football recruit Elijah Pritchett in Oct. 2020. Now, Georgia is among Pritchett’s top four schools.

Pritchett is a member of the class of 2022 and plays offensive tackle. He has great size at 6 feet, 6 inches and weighs 280 pounds. Pritchett is the top-ranked high school senior in Georgia that remains uncommitted.

Pritchett plays high school football for George Washington Carver High School in Columbus, Georgia. Pritchett is ranked as a four-star recruit and the No. 9 offensive tackle in the class of 2022.

Kirby Smart and the Dawgs will look to keep the talented in-state lineman in The Peach State.  Pritchett, who has committed to the 2022 All-American Bowl, is rated as the No. 8 recruit in the state of Georgia. The Bulldogs do not like to miss on elite in-state prospects.

The four-star offensive tackle announced his top four schools of Georgia, Alabama, FSU, and USC via Twitter:

Best of luck to Pritchett wherever he ends up playing college football. We’ll provide updates throughout his recruitment. He’s a key in-state player to watch in the class of 2022.

Georgia and Alabama are fighting to have the top-rated recruiting class in the SEC as usual. Nationally, UGA has the fifth-ranked class and Alabama has the fourth-ranked class.

Will Elijah Pritchett join Georgia Bulldogs offensive linemen like Xavier Truss in Athens? (AP Photo/Brett Carlsen)

Elijah Pritchett is currently projected to sign with the Florida State Seminoles. FSU desperately needs improved offensive line play and Pritchett would be a huge addition to their  recruiting class of 2022.

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Georgia football Twitter reacts: OL Jamaree Salyer is returning

Georgia Bulldogs offensive lineman Jamaree Salyer is returning for another season at the University of Georgia

Georgia Bulldogs offensive lineman Jamaree Salyer is returning for another season at the University of Georgia. His return gives Georgia a big boost in offensive line experience. Salyer has logged 36 appearances in his college football career.

Salyer came to the University of Georgia as a five-star offensive guard recruit out of Atlanta, Georgia. Salyer started at left tackle for the first nine games of the 2020 season and then played left guard in the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl.

Salyer played high school football at Pace Academy with Andrew Thomas for three seasons before coming to Georgia. Salyer will hope to be as well regarded as his high school teammate when his career in Athens is over. Salyer is technically a junior, so he could comeback for another season.

Here’s how Georgia football Twitter reacted to the news (announcement among the reaction):

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Georgia football’s Trey Hill enters 2021 NFL Draft

Junior Georgia Bulldogs offensive lineman Trey Hill is entering into the 2021 NFL Draft. Hill was a key starter at UGA.

Junior Georgia Bulldogs offensive lineman Trey Hill is entering into the 2021 NFL Draft. Hill began the season as the only returning member of Georgia’s starting offensive line. The Houston County High School product helped Georgia weather the storm and helped the Bulldogs put together some impressive offensive line performances as a unit.

Trey Hill is 6 feet, 4 inches, and is one of the best centers in the 2021 NFL Draft. Impressively, No. 55 has already graduated from the University of Georgia. He is truly a man on a mission.

Hill was named second team All-SEC following his impressive 2019 performance. Unfortunately in 2020 his season was cut short due to injury. Georgia got a preview of how life would be like without Hill in the Peach Bowl. The Bulldogs struggled to consistently run the football against Cincinnati.

Offensive line coach Matt Luke may have his hands full once again in terms of replacing elite talent. Offensive guard Ben Cleveland is also entering into the NFL Draft. Justin Shaffer, a senior, additionally faces an NFL Draft decision.

Trey Hill came to Athens as a four or five star recruit depending on the scouting service and has easily lived up to his touted billing. He announced his decision to declare for the 2021 NFL Draft via his Twitter account:

Congratulations to Trey Hill. He was a rock during his time at Georgia. He has the ability to play right away in the NFL. He’s currently projected as a third round draft selection.

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Twitter reacts to Georgia football’s blowout win over South Carolina

Twitter reacts to Georgia Bulldogs football’s blowout 45-16 win over South Carolina Gamecocks. UGA football is now 6-2 on the season.

The Georgia Bulldogs dominated the South Carolina Gamecocks to win 45-16 in Columbia. The Dawgs have now won three straight games at South Carolina. Overall, the University of Georgia has won five of six games against the Gamecocks.

Of course, Will Muschamp and the Gamecocks won in Athens in 2019, but Kirby Smart and Georgia got revenge today. South Carolina was missing numerous players due to injuries and opt outs.

Georgia ran for over 300 yards and dominated South Carolina in the trenches on both sides of the football. Quarterback JT Daniels managed the game well for the Bulldogs. Georgia’s defense stepped up and limited South Carolina’s offense, which was the only bright spot for the Gamecocks.

Georgia defensive tackle Jalen Carter, the entire offensive line, running back James Cook, and freshman wide receiver Arian Smith stood out in UGA’s blowout victory.

Here’s how Georgia football Twitter reacted to the big win:

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UGA football offers scholarship to four-star OL

The University of Georgia has offered a scholarship to Carver High School football recruit Elijah Pritchett.

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The University of Georgia has offered a scholarship to football recruit Elijah Pritchett. Pritchett is a member of the class of 2022 and plays along the offensive line. He has great size at 6 feet, 6 inches and weighs 280 pounds. He is a junior in high school.

Pritchett plays high school football for George Washington Carver High School in Columbus, Georgia. Pritchett is a four-star recruit.

The Georgia Bulldogs are among several elite programs vying for the talented prospect. Kirby Smart and the Dawgs will look to keep the talented in-state lineman in The Peach State. In fact, the Alabama Crimson Tide have offered the four-star a scholarship.

Auburn, FSU, Oregon and Tennessee are among those who have offered. Pritchett announced his scholarship offer from UGA via his Twitter account:

Best of luck to Pritchett wherever he ends up playing college football. We’ll provide updates throughout his recruitment. He’s a player to watch in the class of 2022.

Georgia Bulldogs offensive lineman Xavier Truss (73) warms up before the game against the Vanderbilt Commodores during an NCAA football game on Saturday, Aug. 31, 2019 in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/Brett Carlsen)

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Georgia Bulldogs football player card: OL Tate Ratledge

Georgia Bulldogs offensive lineman Tate Ratledge has the talent to earn playing time along the offensive front as a freshman

Tate Ratledge, Offensive Line (No. 51):

Class: Freshman

Height: 6-6

Weight: 317 pounds

Hometown: Rome, Georgia

High School: Darlington School

Georgia Bulldogs offensive lineman Tate Ratledge has the talent to earn playing time along the offensive front as a freshman. Former Ole Miss head coach Matt Luke will coach up another talented recruit in Ratledge. Ratledge was rated as a four and five-star recruit, depending on the recruiting service, coming out of Darlington School (Cade Brock is a PWO at Georgia from the same high school). He was a member of the class of 2020.

Tate’s dad, Dean, had a brief stint in the NFL after being a standout at Tennessee Tech.

Georgia’s offensive line is replacing four starters from the 2019 season and Ratledge will have a chance to earn a starting spot. He could be called to fill in if there’s an injury and should play as a true freshman. He’ll have to beat out players like Broderick Jones, Xavier Truss, Jamaree Salyer, Warren McClendon, and Warren Ericson to start.

During his recruitment, Ratledge reconsidered his commitment to UGA after offensive line coach Sam Pittman left for the head coaching job at Arkansas. Fortunately for the Dawgs, Ratledge stayed true to his original commitment.

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Georgia football player card: OL Austin Blaske

Georgia Bulldogs offensive lineman Austin Blaske starts his college career this season after being a three-star recruit.

Austin Blaske, Offensive Line (No. 58):

Class: Freshman

Height: 6-5

Weight: 280 pounds

Hometown: Bloomingdale, Georgia

High School: South Effingham High School

Georgia Bulldogs offensive lineman Austin Blaske starts his college career this season after being a three-star recruit. Blaske is a member of the class of 2020 and elected to stay in-state at the University of Georgia.

Blaske will likely redshirt in 2020 (if the season is played) based on his recruiting ranking and the stout competition he’ll face to see the field. Blaske has impressive athleticism for a 280 pound offensive lineman:

Georgia’s offensive line is replacing four starters and Blaske will have an opportunity to compete, which is all he can ask for under offensive line coach Matt Luke. He’ll have to beat out players like Xavier Truss, Jamaree Salyer, Warren McClendon, and Warren Ericson to find playing time.

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