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Georgia OL vets will be key in communication in 'loud' Neyland Stadium

Jeremy Johnsonby: Jeremy Johnson9 hours agoJeremyO_Johnson
Georgia
Georgia offensive lineman Monroe Freeling (57) during Georgia’s game against Kentucky at Kroger Field in Lexington, Ky., on Saturday, Sept. 14, 2024. (Conor Dillon/UGAAA)

Georgia’s offensive line has been a heavy point of conversation over the first month of the college football season. The Bulldogs dealt with injuries up front all throughout 2024.

Georgia immediately found itself in a similar position in 2025. Starting guard Juan Gaston went down with an ankle injury in week one. Gaston missed Georgia’s win over Austin Peay and his status is still up in the air.

Starting right tackle Earnest Greene exited the first game as well and has not played since. Jahzere Jackson started at right tackle in place of Greene and got his ankle banged up against Austin Peay.

Who will be on the field on Saturday afternoon as Georgia faces No. 15 Tennessee is still unknown. The assignment is clear. Neyland Stadium will be full and loud.

Communication upfront is going to be key. Georgia has a few veterans it can rely on to relay messages up and down the front as Georgia attempts to create space in the run game and protect first-year starter at quarterback Gunner Stockton.

Center Drew Bobo is the name that keeps coming up as the player who has the chance to be most impactful in that area on Saturday. Bobo started a few key road games in 2024. He also played a role at guard on and off throughout last season. He’s been there and done that.

Georgia head coach Kirby Smart has felt Bobo has been a bright spot on Georgia’s offensive line so far this season.

“Drew’s been a huge bright spot for us because of his quickness, his intelligence, his awareness,” Smart told reporters on Tuesday. “I think he understands what defenses are doing very well. He’s a really good athlete. He handles people on top of him, and he handles the four down when he’s sometimes a puller. I mean, he does a really good job athletically in space, getting on people and knowing leverage and things. But he communicates well for the quarterback. He’s the leader in terms of making calls and directions up there, and he comforts those guys on the right side.” 

Georgia is leaning on everyone

Offensive tackle Monroe Freeling has also been through the battles of SEC football a handful of times. Freeling feels it’s everyone’s responsibility to communicate and remain focused on the details.

He also pointed to Bobo as the offensive line’s best point of contact.

“I mean, Drew Bobo, obviously center, he’s going to have to communicate the best, but it’s up to the guards,’ Freeling told reporters on Tuesday. “It’s up to everybody just to communicate down the line, because I mean, whenever we played Ole Miss last year, it was loud. I remember I got a false start, and I was just mad. But it’s just like, you gotta be more locked in when you’re on the road, because there’s a lot of noise, and a lot could go wrong. And a lot could go right, and you just gotta be locked in.”


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