Despite winning the SEC Championship and earning a spot in the College Football Playoff in 2024, the Georgia Bulldogs fell short of expectations last season.
When quarterback Carson Beck suffered an injury late in the year against the Texas Longhorns, sophomore Gunner Stockton stepped in to lead the Bulldogs in their playoff quarterfinal matchup against the Notre Dame Fighting Irish after a first-round bye. However, Beck’s absence proved to be a significant hurdle, and Georgia fell to the eventual runner-up Fighting Irish, 23-10.
As the Bulldogs prepare for the 2025 season, their injury woes appear to be continuing. According to Jake Rowe of On3, projected starting left tackle Monroe Freeling is recovering from offseason shoulder surgery, casting doubt on his availability for spring football in a couple of months.
Fortunately, Freeling is expected to return to full strength in time for fall camp. However, missing the critical spring period—especially as the team transitions to a new starting quarterback—presents a challenge.
Freeling, who played all 14 games last season and started the final five at left tackle, allowed three sacks and 21 quarterback pressures over 609 snaps, per Pro Football Focus. In his absence, the Bulldogs can turn to Earnest Greene, who started the first nine games at left tackle in 2024 before an upper-body injury sidelined him. Although Greene recovered late in the season, he couldn’t reclaim his starting spot.
With Carson Beck having transferred to the Miami Hurricanes earlier this month, the Gunner Stockton era is set to begin. However, Stockton’s debut as Georgia’s starter will come with some uncertainty regarding his blindside protection.
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