Georgia Football: Coaching staff working on retooling the offensive line
By Eric Taylor
A large portion of the Bulldogs offensive line is leaving, but the Georgia football program is quickly restocking the shelves.
The Georgia football program will be going through a massive change on the offensive line, with more than a few starters leaving – either for the NFL or the transfer portal – and with a new starting quarterback, the offensive line has to be a priority.
How will this coaching staff replace Andrew Thomas, Isaiah Wilson, Solomon Kindley, and Cade Mays?
First, who is already in Athens and staying? Jamaree Salyer started at tackle in the Sugar Bowl, replacing Isaiah Wilson, and Warren Ericson also started at guard in that game, in place of Ben Cleveland who had to sit out due to academic issues. Solomon Kindley did play in the Sugar Bowl, but with him leaving for the NFL, expect Cleveland and Ericson to compete for those spots.
Salyer will most likely start at one of the tackle spots.
Additionally, tackle Xavier Truss, guard Justin Shaffer, tackle Owen Condon, and tackle Warren McClendon will all be in the mix as well.
With that said, Georgia has added four offensive linemen this recruiting class and could add two more in February. The four they have signed are Tate Ratledge a four-star recruit, Chad Lindberg a four-star recruit, Austin Blaske a three-star recruit, and Devin Willock a three-star recruit.
The Bulldogs are expected to add Sedrick Van Pran, a four-star center and (possibly) Broderick Jones, a five-star tackle in February.
That is quite a haul in one recruiting cycle. Five of the six, Jones, Ratledge, Lindberg, Blaske, and Willock all played tackle in high school, but I expect Lindberg and Willock to possibly move to guard.
Ratledge is quickly becoming my favorite of the group with tweets like this:
https://twitter.com/tateratledge22/status/1213875978348498945?s=20
The Bulldogs have needed to be nastier on the offensive line for a few years now. They’ve had big bodies, but not the bully attitudes. Ratledge is a bully in every sense of the word. Here is another example of it in the All-American Game.
Ratledge not really concerned with how far out of the play he is. pic.twitter.com/jfhP3ms1GT
— Jake Reuse (@ReuseRecruiting) January 4, 2020
Not only is he going to be a great tackle for Georgia he is going to be a fan favorite among Georgia fans.
There was a chance that Auburn could flip Jones, but that most likely will not come to fruition. Auburn’s offensive line coach has stepped down as reported by Michael Bratton:
Auburn in the market for a new offensive line coach as J.B. Grimes has left Gus Malzahn’s program.
— SEC Mike (@MichaelWBratton) January 8, 2020
Will be interesting to see if this affects the recruitment of 5-star offensive lineman Broderick Jones.
Jones scheduled to visit Tennessee, Auburn and Georgia before signing.
So there are plenty of options for Coach Smart and Coach Luke to sift through this Spring. This should make for some good competition in camp. There honestly shouldn’t be too much drop-off from this season to next season (and possibly even some improvement) as there were a few guys that were rotating in and out of the offensive line this past season.
Lots of guys have experience and should be ready to go. The young guys coming in look hungry and ready to prove themselves. It should be fun to see what new offensive line coach Matt Luke is able to do with this group. If the 2020 Sugar Bowl was any indication, Georgia fans are in for a treat in 2020.