The college football season has officially concluded, with Ohio State defeating Notre Dame in Monday night’s College Football Playoff National Championship game. Now, the journey toward the 2025-2026 national title begins. Georgia is expected to rank among the top five programs when the preseason polls are released. The Bulldogs’ offseason moves, particularly their portal additions, have positioned them to be more explosive offensively than they were last year. However, as spring practices, summer workouts, and fall camp loom, several critical questions must be addressed. Today, we focus on the first of five key areas Georgia fans need to watch as the football team prepares for the upcoming season.
1. Development of the Offensive Line
Georgia faces the challenge of replacing four starting offensive linemen from last season: Dylan Fairchild (left guard), Jared Wilson (center), Tate Ratledge (right guard), and Xavier Truss (right tackle). All four players are moving on to pursue their NFL aspirations. While their experience and leadership would have been invaluable, it’s important to note that Georgia’s offensive line underperformed in 2024.
The Bulldogs posted their lowest yards-per-carry average (4.1) since 2011 (3.9) and allowed the most sacks (25) in the Kirby Smart era. This total exceeded the combined sacks allowed in 2023 (13) and 2022 (9).
Although Georgia is losing talented players, this transition offers an opportunity for a fresh group of linemen to step up. Many of the potential starters for next season were highly regarded recruits, bolstered by significant NIL investments. Key players to watch include Daniel Calhoun, Earnest Greene III, and Micah Morris, all of whom have the potential to help restore Georgia’s offensive line back to the level of play we saw a couple of years ago.
- Earnest Greene III: Greene gained starting experience this season at left tackle but struggled, particularly in the loss to Ole Miss. Lingering injuries hampered his performance, ultimately leading to Monroe Freeling taking over the position.
- Daniel Calhoun: Entering his second year, Calhoun used his freshman season to adjust to SEC-level competition. He now appears ready to anchor the right guard position and become a force in the trenches.
- Micah Morris: A fifth-year player, Morris is poised to take on a leadership role, likely as the starting left guard, for the first time in his career.
Georgia will also need contributions from less experienced players to ensure the offensive line’s success. Drew Bobo, the son of offensive coordinator Mike Bobo, is a leading candidate to take over at center. Others, such as Michael Uini, Jamal Merriweather, Bo Hughley, and Marques Easley, will compete for key roles in the guard and tackle rotation.
Offensive line coach Stacy Searels faces a pivotal offseason. After a step back in production this past season, he must guide this group toward significant improvement. At Georgia, a lack of success in the run game is simply unacceptable. This unit’s development will be crucial to the team’s success in 2025.
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Photographer: Jeffrey Vest/Icon Sportswire
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