The Georgia Bulldogs have been a factory for solid offensive linemen since Kirby Smart became head coach in 2016. In fact, Georgia has had 16 offensive linemen drafted since 2020 alone.
With guys like Andrew Thomas and now Monroe Freeling coming out of the program, Georgia should be where NFL teams look for their next guy. However, there is one upcoming prospect scouts are not talking about enough, Earnest Greene III.
Now that Freeling has moved onto the Carolina Panthers, a major hole is to be filled in the left tackle spot. Since ESPN recently reported that Greene has been indicated as the successor of that role, it is worth taking a look at how he can be even more successful at Georgia in 2026.
Earnest Greene III needs to be talked about more for the 2027 NFL Draft
Coming in as a redshirt senior in 2026, Greene is not only one of the most experienced guys on the team but one of the last to be on a National Championship Bulldog team.
Greene has already gained plenty of accolades at his time in Athens, earning First Team Freshman All-American by The Athletic in his redshirt freshman year and becoming a staple on the offensive line. Greene was a four-star recruit coming into Georgia from California and the 2nd best interior offensive lineman in the recruiting cycle according to 247Sports.
With him coming into Athens as an interior offensive lineman, it shows just how much experience and versatility he has shown at Georgia to be able to play left tackle in such a need as this. However, that is not necessarily uncommon at Georgia. Guys like Isaiah Wynn and even Freeling underwent that same challenge under the Smart regime.
Greene has been a guy that Smart has been able to move around on the offensive line when injuries have occurred. In his career, he has only allowed 3 sacks despite playing in 34 games and 1,095 pass blocking snaps. As a former All-American, this guy should be getting a lot more credit with stats like this than he does currently.
With his quick feet and athleticism for his size, he draws early comparisons to his former teammate Freeling as well as Thomas. Now that Greene is expected to be full-time left tackle and securing Gunner Stockton's blindside, the hype should be coming in waves throughout the season. Freeling had the same type of opportunity last season, and now it is Greene's turn.
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