Tag: Xavier Truss

UGA OT announces his return to the Bulldogs

Another Georgia offensive lineman is returning for the 2024 college football season

Offensive lineman Xavier Truss has made his decision on the NFL draft: He’s returning to the Bulldogs for the 2024 season.

Truss, a 6-foot-7, 320-pound lineman, will help the Bulldogs immensely. They’re already losing starting tackle Amarius Mims to the NFL draft. Truss was a key part of the Bulldogs’ offensive line; he filled in at multiple positions along the line when needed.

The senior offensive lineman has been with the Bulldogs since 2019 and has seen his role increase every season. In 2023, Truss was a coach’s second-team All-SEC selection. He has made 27 total starts, but has a wealth of playing time in games he hasn’t started. He could slot in at any spot on the offensive line, but he could be projected as a starting tackle.

Truss joins Tate Ratledge as the second offensive lineman to announce his return to the Bulldogs. The Bulldogs are welcoming both of these guys back along with Carson Beck, Smael Mondon and Nazir Stackhouse.

Georgia football should have a strong offensive line unit again in 2024.

Georgia football: Kirby Smart shares updates on Amarius Mims, Xavier Truss

Kirby Smart shares updates on Amarius Mims, Xavier Truss

On Tuesday, Kirby Smart provided updates on a couple of key Georgia Bulldogs ahead of Saturday’s matchup with the Florida Gators.

Junior right tackle Amarius Mims, who is recovering from TightRope surgery after suffering an ankle injury in Week 3, has taken reps in a limited capacity.

Left guard Xavier Truss, who has served at right tackle in Mims’ absence, is also taking reps as he works his way back from an ankle injury in Georgia’s win over Vanderbilt.

Yeah, both guys have been able to take some reps and work. Xavier is probably ahead of Mims, which is what we expected, but I was really pleased with Mims. He pushed really hard today and got out there, got some work in. And Truss has been out there both days.

Both Mims and Truss are important pieces along the Bulldogs offensive line, not only for their abilities, but also their experience.

When Truss went down in Week 7, Georgia had to bring in true freshman Monroe Freeling. The former five-star recruit had appeared in only four games prior. While Freeling held his own, the Bulldogs will benefit greatly when Mims and Truss return to the lineup.

Georgia OL Xavier Truss says how Bulldogs can honor late teammate Devin Willock

“I feel the best way to honor him is to have that same energy that he always brought, and he always played with.”

Georgia offensive lineman Xavier Truss spoke about the effect the loss of late teammate Devin Willock has had as the Bulldogs prepare for the 2023 season without one of their brothers.

“Yeah, I mean obviously you know that was something that was incredibly hard, not just for myself obviously, but on the entire line, and the entire team. That’s a part of my life that I’ll always embrace, the relationship I have with all my teammates. It’s still just as much a pain in my heart, but I’m trying to look on the bright side. Devin had such great energy that he always brought into the facility, so I feel the best way to honor him is to have that same energy that he always brought, and he always played with.”

Truss says the Dawgs are remembering Willock’s memory every day.

“When we’re watching last year’s film, he’s always on there; you always see that big body running around and everything. I’m not sure who drew it, but there’s a hand-drawn portrait of Devin that sits right above the door, so you see it every time you walk in. His seat up front stays empty, so it always feels like he’s there with us, and you know he’s there.”

 

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 UGA’s depth chart at offensive tackle

The Georgia Bulldogs need a good performance out of their offensive line in 2021.

The Georgia Bulldogs need a good performance out of their offensive line in 2021. Quarterback JT Daniels isn’t the most mobile athlete, so the offensive line’s protection of him will be critical, especially in week one against Clemson’s talented defensive line.

Georgia head coach Kirby Smart and offensive line coach Matt Luke has built up some quality talent along the offensive front. The Dawgs should have a strong running game again in 2021.

Can Georgia’s offensive line avoid poor performances this season? Last year, the offensive line and running backs surprisingly could not establish the run against Mississippi State. Georgia still beat Mississippi State, but the Dawgs needs to be able to run the ball effectively against each of their opponents this year.

How does Georgia’s depth chart stack up at offensive tackle?

UGA football player card: OL Xavier Truss

Georgia Bulldogs offensive lineman Xavier Truss came to Athens all the way from Rhode Island.

Xavier Truss, Offensive Line (#73):

Class: Redshirt freshman

Height: 6-7

Weight: 330 pounds

Hometown: Warwick, Rhode Island

High School: Bishop Hendricken High School

Georgia Bulldogs offensive lineman Xavier Truss came to Athens all the way from Warwick, Rhode Island. Truss was the state’s top recruit in his class as a four-star offensive tackle.

Truss will look to earn more playing time next season. He’ll face talented recruits in competition along the offensive line, but he could end up as a starter at offensive tackle. Truss will compete with the likes of Ben Cleveland, Jamaree Salyer, Warren Ericson, Justin Shaffer, Warren McClendon, Broderick Jones, and more for a starting role in 2020.

Georgia Bulldogs offensive line coach Matt Luke isn’t short on talent despite losing three players to the 2020 NFL Draft. Truss played in three games last season, but not against the Baylor Bears, which is interesting because the Dawgs were without their top offensive tackles for that contest.

Here’s how Truss committed to UGA:

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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.

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