Georgia Faces a Distinct Situation Following Tate Ratledge’s Injury
Georgia’s starting offensive guard and team captain, Tate Ratledge, suffered an ankle and knee sprain during Saturday night’s game against the Kentucky Wildcats. Head coach Kirby Smart confirmed that the team’s medical staff acted quickly to perform Tight-Rope surgery. Ratledge is optimistic about returning after the team’s second bye week, just ahead of the Florida matchup.
For now, the Bulldogs are in a unique position, thanks to consistent recruiting efforts. Coach Smart has made the lines of scrimmage a top priority in recruiting, which in today’s college football landscape also involves significant financial investment. It’s well known that Georgia’s biggest expenditures are on the offensive and defensive lines.
The beginning of the 2024 season highlights this strategy. Georgia has been without defensive tackles Warren Brinson, Jordan Hall, and Xavier McLeod for the first three games, with Brinson and McLeod only seeing limited snaps before re-aggravating their injuries. They’ve also gone two games without preseason All-American Mykel Williams, yet they still haven’t allowed a touchdown.
Now, with Tate Ratledge’s injury and surgery, Georgia’s offensive line faces another setback. However, thanks to their depth, they’re replacing NFL prospect Ratledge with junior Micah Morris, who has been a consistent contributor for nearly three seasons. Since the start of 2022, Morris has played in all but one game.
This depth is a result of Georgia’s intentional roster-building strategy. While they haven’t signed a five-star wide receiver since George Pickens or a five-star running back since Zamir White in 2019, they don’t lack depth or talent on the line of scrimmage. In the SEC, where success often hinges on line play, Georgia remains dominant.
