Georgia Football: Who will start on the offensive line in 2019?

The offensive line is arguably deepest, most talented position group on Georgia’s football team. Who makes the cut for that starting five though?

Offensive Line Coach/Associate Head coach Sam Pittman has established this group as one of the best units in the country. With only five starting spots to fill, however, here are my projections for what Georgia football’s offensive line will look like for the first game this season:

Left Tackle: Andrew Thomas (6’5″ 320 lbs. Jr.)

2019 will almost certainly be Andrew Thomas’s last year with the Dawgs as he’s projected to be a 1st-round pick in the 2020 NFL Draft.

Thomas started 15 games at right tackle as a true freshman and 13 games at left tackle during his sophomore season. He was named a freshman All-American in 2017 and was a second-team AP All-American last season.

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Not only is Thomas Georgia’s most productive and talented lineman, but he also will likely be a key team leader in 2019.

He was named a team captain for three games during his sophomore season, and I expect that number to increase this season.

Georgia fans should rest easy that Jake Fromm’s blindside will be protected by who many consider to be the best left tackle in college football in Thomas.

Left Guard: Solomon Kindley (6’4″ 335 lbs. R-Jr.)

Solomon Kindley is one of Georgia’s biggest and most intimidating offensive linemen. He has shown versatility in being able to play both guard spots throughout his career.

After taking a redshirt in 2016, Kindley started seven games at right guard in 2017. He was also on the SEC Freshman All-American team.

In 2018, he took his game to a new level and started all 14 games of the season at left guard alongside Andrew Thomas. Kindley is one of Georgia’s most experienced linemen and was a part of Kirby Smart’s first recruiting class in Athens back in 2016.

For the Dawgs to have a great season, they need talent and consistency on the offensive line. Solomon Kindley is one of several linemen that will fit that mold perfectly in 2019.

Center: Trey Hill (6’4″ 330 lbs. Soph.)

Trey Hill is one of the highest rated offensive line recruits to ever sign with Georgia, and most would agree that he lived up to his potential as a freshman last season.

Hill, who was an early enrollee, played in all 14 games for the Dawgs in 2018 which included four starts at right guard. He also filled in admirably at center during some late portions of the season as Lamont Gaillard dealt with a nagging injury.

Based on his play from last season and reports from spring practice, Hill is the overwhelming favorite to start at center for the Dawgs in 2019. He seemed to develop some good chemistry with quarterback Jake Fromm when he received some snaps at center last season.

The SEC is full of talented interior defensive linemen but having an imposing presence like Trey Hill at center should open up some massive holes for the Georgia run game this fall.

Right Guard: Jamaree Salyer (6’4″ 325 lbs. Soph.)

Like Hill, Jamaree Salyer was also one of the highest rated offensive line prospects to ever sign for the Dawgs when he decided to come to Athens. During his freshman season last year, he played in 13 games but never was able to crack the starting lineup.

Salyer is in line to start at right guard because of the strides he has made during offseason workouts and spring practice. Head coach Kirby Smart has publicly praised Salyer’s improvement which has allowed him to see some snaps at right guard with the first-team offense.

When you turn on the film, you will quickly see that Salyer is a mean, nasty offensive lineman who can physically dominate most players he will face on a defensive line. That is exactly the kind of mentality Georgia needs to be able to run the ball and protect Jake Fromm effectively.

Right Tackle: Isaiah Wilson (6’7″ 340 lbs. R-Soph.)

Isaiah Wilson is one of the largest players in college football, but he is far more athletic than his size would indicate. After redshirting in 2017, Wilson burst onto the scene and started at right tackle in all 14 games for the Dawgs in 2018.

He was named to two different freshman All-American teams and solidified himself as one of the best linemen in the SEC. His starting spot is extremely secure and barring injury he should be Georgia’s right tackle for at least the next season.

After 2019, Wilson would be eligible for the NFL Draft, but I think he would probably come back and then declare after his redshirt junior season in 2020.

If you watch a Georgia game, the first player you will probably notice is Wilson. He is a menacing physical presence that anchored the right side of Georgia’s offensive line all of last season. The Dawgs are certainly in good shape at right tackle going forward.

Georgia has an abundance of talent and depth at every single position on the offensive line. Injuries or bad play could always change how the starting lineup will look, but the five players mentioned here are, in my opinion, the favorites to be on the field when the Georgia offense lines up against Vanderbilt on August 31st.