By: Robert Craft

TheSouthernSportsEdition.com news services

Georgia lost four starters from an offensive line that allowed the most sacks (25) during the Kirby Smart era, leading the Bulldogs’ coach to tell his group to “grow up and play” this offseason.

Three under-the-radar players have stepped up to meet the challenge, led by a towering 6-foot-7 offensive tackle.

Junior Monroe Freeling is in line to be a starter at Georgia.

Based on his physical growth since last season, Georgia feels like he is in position to not only hold his own at left tackle, but to have a year that could land him an early NFL Draft pick.

Freeling is ranked No. 33 overall and No. 6 among offensive tackles in his 2023 recruiting class. He had an up-and-down first season with Georgia.

The former four-star recruit started the final five games at left tackle, surrendering 12 pressures, including four pressures and three sacks in the Sugar Bowl loss to Notre Dame.

Despite missing spring practice due to offseason shoulder surgery, NFL scouts are optimistic about Freeling’s potential to elevate his game during his junior year.

The coaching staff holds the same confidence and optimism to right tackle Earnest Greene and center Drew Bobo.

Earnest Greene hasn’t started yet at his new right tackle position but he’s in line to start this year, and a lot of folks feel really good about him.

Drew Bobo is another candidate to feel good about as the starting center. Internally, Georgia feels like Drew is a significantly better player than most people realize.

The strength of the offensive line is in the interior. Georgia is starting inexperienced tackles on both sides.

On the inside, Bobo played 183 snaps at center last season and allowed just three pressures and zero sacks.

Left guard Micah Morris allowed four pressures and zero sacks across 432 total snaps last season, while right guard Daniel Calhoun surrendered zero pressures in 26 snaps. This might be the most talented returning interior O-Lines in the NCAA.

This is a big year for Stacked Searels’ group: they’re tasked with protecting a first-time starting quarterback. Looking into this season, this group can provide adequate play up front, but that does not feel like a confident statement to make. I guess we’ll wait and see?

Smart downplayed Georgia’s rushing numbers from last year and explained that those numbers were a product of the teams the Bulldogs played.

Even with a padded stat sheet, Smart made it clear that the Georgia Bulldogs must run the ball better in 2025. Can they make it happen?

The SEC is a line of scrimmage conference and Georgia’s offensive line should be among the best. The Dawgs OLine will determine how they fair in the College Football Playoff.