Georgia offensive lineman Monroe Freeling undergoes surgery

This offseason will be a huge test for the Georgia offensive line after the unit lost four starters to the NFL. The spring promises to be a challenge for those stepping up, especially with it looking like a likely starter will not be available.

Dawgs247 has confirmed that offensive tackle Monroe Freeling has undergone shoulder surgery and will at least be limited during spring drills. Freeling’s surgery complicates Georgia’s plans for spring given the likelihood that the rising junior will be a starter this fall.

DawgsHQ’s Jake Rowe first reported the news of Freeling’s surgery.

Freeling appeared in all 14 games for the Bulldogs in 2024 and made five starts along the way. He stepped in at left tackle for an injured Earnest Greene for the Ole Miss game and maintained that role going forward.

“[Monroe] had some oversets,” Kirby Smart said a couple days after Georgia beat Tennessee. “He had a couple times that Carson did a nice job moving in the pocket and gave up some pressure. But he really competed hard, played physical, got better kind of as the game went on. I thought he had some jitters early, but he’s very bright and continues to work really hard.”

Freeling graded out to 70.4 this season according to Pro Football Focus. He earned a 71.4 run blocking grade and a 65.4 pass blocking grade per the site.

Freeling played in eight games as a true freshman in 2023. He notably stepped up in Georgia’s win over Vanderbilt when injuries forced him onto the field.

Smart spoke after the Vanderbilt game about Freeling and tight end Lawson Luckie having to step up.

“There’s no message. They go into the game ready to play. I didn’t say a word to them. They understand,” Smart said. “We do a million walk-throughs and practices, and I’ve been telling Stacey and those guys, ‘You’ve got to put Monroe in there. You can’t just put him in the game. Put him in there with the ones and let him practice. Let him see what it’s like to go against our guys.’ That moment came, and it wasn’t too big for him. I thought he did a good job.”

Freeling was a four-star prospect out of Oceanside Collegiate Academy in South Carolina. He committed to the Bulldogs in August 2022.

The Bulldogs may have to get creative this spring given Freeling’s situation. Greene is back for another season, but he and Freeling are the only experienced offensive tackles on the team. Other potential options include junior Bo Hughley, redshirt sophomore Jamal Meriweather, and true sophomore Jah Jackson.