It seems now every year that the Georgia Bulldogs are pressured into replacing one, or multiple, first round picks the next season. Thankfully for Kirby Smart, he will only have to worry about replacing one first round pick this upcoming season in offensive linema Monroe Freeling.
With Smart rotating so many lineman last year due to injuries, this should not be a terrible situation to be in. According to ESPN, the one player that is slated to replace Freeling is actually one of the most experienced and talented players on the roster.
Earnest Greene III Expected to Replace Monroe Freeling at LT
Many Georgia fans are already well aware of what Earnest Greene III can bring to the table at Georgia. Coming in as a four-star recruit in 2022, he is now one of the last members of a National Championship Georgia team. Now, as a redshirt senior and plenty of experience, he should be able to slide into Freeling's vacant position perfectly.
Despite having lingering back injuries that caused him to redshirt his freshman year, he is arguably the most reliable player on Georgia's offensive line and has been for several years. In his redshirt freshman year, Greene was awarded First Team Freshman All-American by The Athletic and started all 14 games. In his redshirt sophomore and junior seasons, he continued to play at a high level and only miss a handful of games.
This is the year Greene is expected to truly shine. He is the most experienced player on this offensive line and should be a cornerstone for a successful season. With left tackle being the blindside protector for Gunner Stockton, Stockton should feel more than comfortable in the pocket with Greene blocking. It might not sound like a lot, but this normally proves to bring better pocket awareness and calmness for quarterbacks.
In short, it is never easy to lose a guy that is a first round talent. However, Georgia should feel very comfortable with Earnest Greene III.
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