The Georgia Bulldogs had three offensive linemen selected during day two of the NFL draft pick last season, but at times it didn’t feel like it.
Offensive line play was up and down for the Bulldogs throughout the 2024 season, with shaky pass protection and a subpar running game plaguing the offense. Despite a talented front featuring Tate Ratledge, Jared Wilson and Dylan Fairchild, it just wasn’t the dominant group many expected to see.
The Bulldogs had the second-fewest rushing yards in the SEC last year and didn’t consistently protect quarterback Carson Beck either despite the talent they had up front.
Injuries were arguably the biggest culprit for the underwhelming play. Ratledge missed four games with an ankle injury that required tightrope surgery, Wilson missed two games with a foot injury and Fairchild played through a torn calf muscle that impacted his performance.
All together, those injuries kept the group from finding its groove and clicking together as a unit on the field. And it looks like more of the same is happening in 2025.
Georgia's offensive line is being held back by injuries
Injuries have already dogged the Bulldogs’ offensive line to start the season. Georgia has started a different offensive line group in each of its five games. Center Drew Bobo is the only player on the line who has started every game.
Left tackle Monroe Freeling is dealing with an ankle injury that made him leave the game against Kentucky. Right tackle Earnest Greene has missed the last two weeks with a back injury and has not taken a snap in the second half of a game all season.
“It’s tough sledding,” head coach Kirby Smart said via dawgnation.com. “It’s the dangest thing I’ve ever seen with the offensive line in terms of, never played with two freshmen, never played with five guys and having to roll guys. It’s been really tough.”
The Bulldogs turned to two true freshmen last week, Dontrell Glover at right guard and Juan Gaston at right tackle, making it the first time they’ve started two freshmen offensive linemen since 2008. Gaston was originally the starter at right guard, and has himself been dealing with recurring ankle injuries.
Veteran left guard Micah Morris has also been banged up throughout the year but has been able to avoid a serious injury so far.
Georgia's lack of offensive line health is a serious concern
Even though the Bulldogs’ run game has significantly improved so far this season, averaging over 200 yards on the ground, all of the offensive line shuffling is a concern.
Tackle Bo Hughley played well on the right side when pressed into action against Tennessee, but was forced to move over to left against Kentucky when Freeling went down. Things like that are what prevent players from getting into a rhythm.
Georgia has plenty of raw talent on its offensive line. That’s never been the issue. But this amount of injuries is not sustainable. If the Bulldogs can’t get a set group going soon, the offensive line might not ever click the way it needs to.
Georgia can survive these issues in September when half of the schedule is cupcake games and the SEC is still feeling itself out. But when October and November come around and the going gets a little tougher, that’s when they need to be as solid as possible in the trenches.
Right now, injuries aren’t even giving Georgia a chance to do that. And the impact it could have on the rest of the offense is worth monitoring as the Bulldogs get deeper into their conference schedule.