Sophomore Surge: Can Earnest Greene Hold it Down for Georgia?

Georgia will have two new starting tackles on the offensive line this season, and sophomore Earnest Greene looks to be the front-runner for one of those spots.

Jonathan Williams | Mar 25, 2023

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Georgia Bulldogs

The Georgia Bulldogs have a litany of players who are entering their second year with the program, and several of them were valuable contributors as true freshmen. As these players gain experience, their roles will continue to grow. Spring practice is a pivotal point in the offseason to see how players' careers are progressing and will provide a quick preview of what could be in store for these players in 2023.

Georgia didn't experience a massive overhaul on offense this season, but the players they did lose played very prominent positions for the Bulldogs. Quarterback Stetson Bennett finally saw his college career come to an end and both starting tackles from last season, Broderick Jones and Warren McClendon, are off to the NFL as well. So that leaves two big spots up for grabs up front, and sophomore Earnest Greene is in the mix for one of them.

Coming out of high school, Greene was rated as a four-star prospect and the 45th-best player in the nation. He was also ranked as a top-three player in the state of California in the 2022 class. Now in just his second season at Georgia, he looks to be a front-runner to earn the title of being one of Georgia's starting tackles for the 2023 season.

Georgia has developed offensive linemen with the best of them over the last few years. Since 2017, the Bulldogs have had nine offensive linemen selected in the NFL draft, and three have been 1st round picks. And they're closing in on having two more selected in this year's draft and another first-round selection as McClendon and Jones did not allow a single sack in 15 games for Georgia last season.

All of those things are great news for both fans and Greene heading into the upcoming season. Offensive line coach Stacey Searles has been able to continue the success upfront after Matt Luke's departure. Greene does not carry much college experience into his second season, but he is in great hands to be very successful.

From a player evaluation standpoint, Greene has all of the tools to be a high-caliber offensive tackle in the SEC. He carries a massive frame as he stands at 6-4 and 330 pounds, according to his UGA player profile. On top of that, he also has very strong and explosive hands.

As things currently sit, it looks like Greene will make a strong push for the starting role, but it won't be handed to him. Austin Blaske has made it a big-time competition at that spot and is more than capable of winning the job. The Bulldogs have been blessed with exceptional play at left tackle over the years, and Greene looks to be a guy who could continue to carry the torch for the next couple of seasons.

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Published Mar 25, 2023

JONATHAN WILLIAMS