Offensive Line Spring Preview

Georgia returns undoubtedly one of the best groups of skilled position players it has seen in decades. With enthusiasm at an all-time high surrounding starting quarterback JT Daniels and a long list of hungry receivers and running backs, and not to mention a young room of pass-catching tight ends, Georgia looks loaded with talent offensively.

While Georgia’s offensive line was much younger and lacked experience, it was still considered one of the country’s better offensive line units. Jamaree Salyer and Warren McClendon’s breakouts at the offensive tackle spots beam a bright future in Athens along the offensive line.

After just returning one full-time starter from the 2019-20 season to this past season. Georgia will return three out of the five starters from a year ago. Trey Hill, the junior center, declared early for the NFL Draft shortly after two minor knee surgeries ended his season. Simultaneously, senior guard Ben Cleveland opted out of the Peach Bowl in favor of draft preparation.

Georgia trouted out a make-shift offensive line for the 2021 Peach Bowl. It was a mixed bag in terms of performance as the Georgia offense struggled with consistency in the running game and keeping a clean pocket for JT Daniels.

Questions regarding the starting lineup at offensive line for this upcoming season could not be shadier as we approach spring practice.

Jamaree Salyer and Warren Ericson’s position has yet to be determined as a junior Salyer started nine games at left tackle before being moved back inside to guard, his natural position for the Peach Bowl. The struggles of young Xavier Truss in Atlanta make it tougher to decide where is Salyer most needed?

Rising junior Warren Ericson looks to be a utility player for Georgia along the offensive line. The former Suwanee native saw his only start of the season against Missouri and Cincinnati in Trey Hill’s relief. With Ericson and Sayler’s versatility, it will likely make Matt Luke’s job easier come the regular season.

The return of senior Justin Shaffer gives Georgia more starting experience this offseason. Shaffer saw his first full season as a starter in 2020. And will likely retain his spot at one of the offensive guard spots. Shaffer and Salyer’s decisions to stay in Athens another season brought an added glimmer of hope that Georgia would have the offensive line necessary to make a run at the National Championship in 2021.

While the offensive line’s left side is still up in the air, the same thing cannot be said about its right side. Redshirt sophomore Warren McClendon is fresh off a breakout season as the starting right tackle for the Dawgs.

McClendon was one of the more consistent performers throughout the season, even though he was a redshirt freshman in need of experience. Warren started in nine games of the 2020 season while playing 82% of the offensive snaps this past fall.

Georgia brings in one of the best offensive line classes in the country in 2021 as they will welcome five-star offensive tackle Amarius Mims, four-stars Micah Morris, Dylan Fairchild, and three-star Jared Wilson.

After a star-studded 2020 recruiting class that brought Broderick Jones, Tate Ratledge, Sedrick Van-Pran, and others to Athens, the future is bright at Georgia inside the offensive line room. Many of the 2020 class will have a chance to start this season as competition runs high throughout the position battles.

The performance of freshman Amarius Mims and redshirt freshman Broderick Jones will significantly affect the offensive line this season as both will compete for the job at left tackle.