Tag: uga spring football

One of the biggest questions surrounding Georgia football as the team gets going in spring practice is who exactly will be starting left tackle when the Bulldogs visit Charlotte to face Clemson on Sept. 4.

Last season it was Jamaree Salyer, but the senior will most likely be moving inside to guard, his more natural position.

UGA has several options here. One is redshirt freshman and former five-star Broderick Jones and another is five-star 2021 signee Amarius Mims.

Both Jones and Mims were among the top players at their position coming out of high school, but some may be surprised to see a third option, redshirt sophomore Xavier Truss, getting most of the reps with the first-team offense so far this spring.

The former four-star recruit started Georgia’s last game of the season versus Cincinnati and struggled. The Bearcats defense was a big test for a first-time starter. Georgia coach Kirby Smart told reporters on Thursday that the six-foot-seven, 330 pound Truss has impressed him so far this offseason.

“He’s a hard worker. He’s trimmed some of his weight down,” Smart said. “I thought he gained some confidence in the Cincinnati game, he got to play in a tough environment against a really good defense. The best way to improve at the point that he’d been at was to go play. So he’s been out there this spring competing, I think he’s doing better at the mental side of things, picking it up. Coach (Matt) Luke’s really challenged him to play with a little bit more energy and passion. He’s one of those guys that doesn’t show it a lot. He doesn’t play with a lot of emotion and sometimes you want that emotion to come out. Like, show some personality when you have a good block and when you compete really hard. But he’s gained a lot of confidence. For a kid that probably didn’t go against the same caliber of competition week in week out in high school, he’s adjusted really well and he’s a joy to be around.”

Truss was the No. 1 player in Rhode Island in the 2019 recruiting class and was rated as the No. 19 tackle in the nation.

Fighting off five-stars Jones and Mims will be impressive if Truss can earn the left tackle spot. The sooner Georgia has a solid starter in place to protect quarterback JT Daniels, the better chance the Bulldogs get the offensive continuity down to test a nasty Clemson defense in the season opener.

A new episode of “UGA Football Live with J.C. Shelton” is here! J.C. is joined by former Georgia tight end Arthur Lynch to talk UGA football, his life as U.S. Army 2nd Lieutenant and more. Listen here: