Emptying The Notebook: Georgia’s future on the OL

Georgia players are done with final exams and most have left Athens to spend time with family and/or train on their own. DawgsHQ, however, has continued to gather intel and below we empty the notebook with what we’re hearing about the future of the Bulldog offensive line.

*** I think we all expect the offensive line to be a major strength for Georgia in 2024. The Bulldogs bring back a really good mix of talent and experience and they have at least three guys at both guard and tackle who can play winning football. With that said, the group is going to look different in 2025 and based on what we’ve heard this week, it’s reasonable to expect the o-line to be a strength beyond this coming season.

*** Starting with offensive tackle, Xavier Truss is gone after this season and it wouldn’t be at all surprising if Earnest Greene tried to enter the 2025 NFL Draft. I do believe that Georgia will work to keep Greene around for one more year. Should he leave, Monroe Freeling will be the next man up but I’m told that it’s not a lock that he’ll be the left tackle.

That’s because I continue to hear really good things about the development of Jamal Meriweather . He had a really good spring and has done a tremendous job of getting bigger and stronger. One source inside the Georgia program told me that he has put on around 35 pounds in less than a year and has a natural feel for the position to go along with great length and athleticism.

Bo Hughley , the subject of today’s edition of the second-year surge, missed his first spring at Georgia after having labrum surgery but he, too, has added significant mass since arriving in Athens last summer. I’ve spoken to multiple sources who are excited to see how he develops over the next year because now that he’s healthy, he can fully commit to the weight room.

*** Looking at the youngsters at that position, I’m hearing some positive buzz about both Michael Uini and Nyier Daniels . I also think Daniel Calhoun is going to get some long looks at tackle after getting a lot of second-team reps at right guard this spring. Uini is behind Calhoun when it comes to those linemen who signed with Georgia in the 2024 class but he has the physical tools to be a good one.

I’m also told that after a really slow start to spring, Daniels made some serious strides over the following weeks. He may end up on the inside but he really grew this spring. That group of 2024 offensive lineman signees who enrolled at Georgia in January has combined to lose over 100 pounds.

*** I was surprised to learn this week that Tate Ratledge is the only experienced Georgia lineman to work at center this spring. Jared Wilson is going to be the starter and Drew Bobo had worked there a lot over the past couple of seasons. I expected Dylan Fairchild or Micah Morris to get at least some work snapping the football this spring but I’m told that neither of them did. I wonder if Stacey Searels gets one of those guys some work during preseason camp if for no other reason than to see how they take to it.

As for Ratledge’s work at center, I’m told that it went quite well and he has a good understanding of the position. I also continue to hear good things about Bobo and his development. More and more people inside the Georgia program are talking about how much better he has gotten over the past year and a half.

*** Speaking of Morris, I was down in Camden County to speak at the Bulldog Club this week and I’m told that he is getting after it both in the weight room and with conditioning. He’s working out at the school daily and he’s running stadium steps while the team goes through spring practice. I’m sure Georgia has provided him with a lifting program to go by during his time away from Athens.

That starting left guard position is still very much open after Morris got a ton of work with the ones throughout spring and Fairchild got the start in the G-Day game. Both of those guys are going to play and sources tell me that Morris’ work at right tackle has gone really well, too.

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