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Monroe Freeling puts 'guts, toughness, grit' on display in Georgia's win over Auburn

On3 imageby: Jake Rowe10/13/25JakeMRowe
Monroe Freeling Georgia
Georgia offensive lineman Monroe Freeling (57), Georgia offensive lineman Micah Morris (56) during Georgia’s game against Auburn at Jordan-Hare Stadium in Auburn, Al., on Saturday, Oct. 11, 2025. (Conor Dillon/UGAAA)

Just this time last week it did not appear as if Monroe Freeling‘s chances of playing at Auburn were very good. After experiencing a sprained ankle in Georgia’s win over Kentucky the week prior, Freeling looked as if he might miss some time.

Fast forward to the first quarter of Saturday’s game on The Plains, and Freeling trotted onto the field, entered the huddle, and took his spot at left tackle. Kirby Smart was effusive in his praise of Freeling on Monday.

“Guts, toughness, grit,” Smart said on Monday. “I mean, if you would have told me after watching him Wednesday or whatever day it was, Thursday, when he just went out and tried to run and work out, I was questioning whether we should bring him on the trip. And he texted me and said, ‘coach, I’m going on this trip and I’m playing and I’m going to be read.’ Just says a ton about his competitive character that in a day and age that some guys have to look out for themselves or whatever, he’s all about the team. He made it clear that he wanted to help this team win that game.

The South Carolina native did not start at Auburn. He did, however, play 65 of the Bulldogs’ 74 snaps after being listed as questionable throughout the week per the SEC’s student-athlete availability report. Freeling was designated as a game-time decision in the report released 90 minutes before kickoff.

Prior to the Auburn game, Freeling had started 10 straight games at left tackle dating back to last season. Five of those starts came last year after Freeling had been rotating in at both tackle positions through the first nine games.

Georgia has been without Earnest Greene, the starter at right tackle to begin the season, for most of the first six games. He has missed four of those games all together, played just 19 snaps in the season opener, and was unable to finish the game at Tennessee after getting the start. He’s ailed by a back injury.

The Bulldogs also had to go it without mammoth true freshman Juan Gaston at different points of the Auburn contest. Gaston, who has started that past two games at right tackle, re-injured his ankle against the Tigers, causing him to miss multiple series. Freeling’s presence, despite not being 100 percent, made the situation much more manageable.

“He played a huge role in that game, especially after the Juan (Gaston) ankle came,” Smart said. “We had to start flip-flopping (tackles).”

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