Left Tackle John Theus is the Key to Georgia Football 2015
Connect the dots. John Theus is the key to the 2015 Georgia football season.
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Driven by the amazing half-year of highlights generated by running back Nick Chubb and by the explosive athleticism of outside linebackers Lorenzo Carter, Jordan Jenkins and Leonard Floyd, the football hopes of the Bulldog Nation are as high as ever.
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But meeting or exceeding the lofty expectations of the college football world for these Dawgs begins with a deep, seasoned and talented offensive line. And for Georgia, that offensive line begins with senior left tackle John Theus.
In 2014, the 6-foot-6, 313-pounder from Jacksonville moved to left tackle and started all 13 games for an offense that led the Southeastern Conference with an average of 257.8 rushing yards a game. Georgia yielded just 17 sacks, after averaging 26.8 sacks allowed per season from 2010-13.
There were a number of reasons for the offensive line’s improved play in 2014, such as first time starters Greg Pyke and Brandon Kublanow. But Theus protecting the quarterback’s blind side from the left tackle position was the key to the offensive line’s success.
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Theus is the lynchpin on the Georgia squad’s third strongest position group behind running back and outside linebacker. Whoever the quarterback is, Theus will be protecting his blind side in the passing pocket. If Theus can improve on last year’s production, the Georgia offense will excel.
And Theus should do just that, being voted to a First Team Media Days Preseason All-SEC spot.
It hasn’t been an easy road for Theus at Georgia. “I came in and got thrown into the fire early,” Theus told John Paschall of the timesfreepress.com “But I’m thankful for it and I’m better for it.”
I came in and got thrown into the fire early
Theus matriculated in 2012 as a consensus top-25 national prospect. He started all 14 games at right tackle his first season and earned freshman All-America honors. However, when Kolton Houston finally gained his eligibility, Theus lost his starting job for parts of the 2013 season.
Speaking again to Paschall, “I’ve learned a lot since my first day here, and I think I’m a much better player and person.
What do close observers see in Theus as he enters his last season? “He’s excited about finishing strong, and he’s excited about being a leader for this team,” Bulldogs coach Mark Richt said to Paschall.
The 2015 Georgia offensive line could be great, and if it is, all the Bulldog dreams could come true. It all begins with John Theus.