This past offseason, Georgia has undergone a remodel on the offensive side of the ball, especially after losing several key players to the NFL Draft and the replacement of some key coaching staff members.
The Bulldogs will look to become more explosive in the pass game next season under new offensive coordinator Todd Monken, and one ESPN analyst feels that UGA could succeed behind one of the best at his position in the SEC. Even though they lost three offensive lineman, the unit returns center Trey Hill, who has a lot of starting experience at the position.
Analyst Cole Cubelic ranks Hill as the second-best center in the conference, only behind Kentucky’s Drake Jackson. Tennessee’s Brandon Kennedy, Alabama’s Landon Dickerson, and Auburn’s Nick Brahms all round out the rest of his top five.
In 2019, Hill started all 14 games at center and played every offensive snap against Vanderbilt, Notre Dame, South Carolina, Kentucky, Florida, Auburn, and Baylor. Hill was named the AP All-SEC Second Team for the 2019 season.
As a sophomore in 2018, he played in all 14 games, starting the last four games at right guard. He also played all but five snaps at center in the Kentucky game following an injury to former Bulldog Lamont Galliard. Against Vanderbilt, Hill played three different position on the offensive line.
Under the direction of new offensive line coach Matt Luke, the Bulldogs return a lot of experience in 2020. Redshirt senior Ben Cleveland returns and will likely take over the right guard spot. Senior Justin Shaffer will more than likely take over for former Bulldog Solomon Kindley at left guard. Junior Jamaree Salyer will probably start at one offensive tackle spot, with redshirt freshman Xavier Truss and Warren McClendon attempting to battle it out for the other spot. Redshirt sophomore Warren Ericson is also a name to watch to battle for a spot on the offensive line as well.
The Bulldogs signed six offensive lineman in the 2020 recruiting class. That list includes five-star Broderick Jones, four-stars Tate Ratledge, Sedrick Van Pran and Chad Lindberg, alongside three-stars Austin Blaske and Devin Willock.