UGA offensive lineman Justin Shaffer got his first chance to start at left guard versus Tennessee this past season on October 5th, playing every snap versus the Volunteers. The following week versus South Carolina, Shaffer earned his second start but unfortunately, suffered a neck injury that would end up keeping the junior out the rest of the year including the SEC Championship Game and the Sugar Bowl.
On Thursday evening, Shaffer shared some good news with Bulldog Nation via Twitter
Shaffer signed with Bulldogs as part of UGA’s 2017 recruiting class out of Cedar Grove High School in Ellenwood, GA. The 6-foot-4 and 330 lbs Shaffer would go in to play in eight games for Georgia as a true freshman in 2017 and 12 the following season in 2018 as a sophomore. Including his two starts versus Tennessee and South Carolina, Shaffer played in the Dawgs’ first six games of the season before his neck injury.
With the departure of three of Georgia’s starting offensive lineman to the NFL that included junior left tackle Andrew Thomas, redshirt sophomore right tackle Isaiah Wilson, and fourth-year junior left guard Solomon Kindley as well as a fourth lineman with the transfer of the versatile sophomore Cade Mays to Tennessee, it is indeed good news if Shaffer is cleared to return to competition as he will be the early favorite for the 2020 left guard spot.