Every member of Georgia football 's 2024 starting offensive line stood side by side in the Bulldogs ' indoor practice facility in a T-shirt and shorts at the school's Pro Day before NFL scouts and coaches in March. Except one.
Earnest Greene still has more snaps to play for the Bulldogs.
The redshirt junior is back for a third season as a starter, shifting this spring from left tackle to right tackle.
The Los Angeles native exited spring practices feeling good about how the new-look offensive line is taking shape but seeing areas his own game that can get better.
"I'll never be content with anything that you put on tape," he said. "I can always improve and get better. Really looking forward to getting back to the drawing board and assessing the spring that I had."
All 23 of Greene's starts for Georgia have come at left tackle, but the 6-foot-4, 320-pounder lined up at right tackle this spring and in the G-Day spring game.
Monroe Freeling started the last five games of last season at left tackle and Bo Hughley played there in the spring game because Freeling was recovering from shoulder surgery.
As for right tackle, Greene said: "Well, you know I play football, so I'll be comfortable anywhere on the football field. As an offensive lineman, you just want to get a chance to get your hands on somebody and move them off the ball and keep moving."
Greene last season gave up two sacks, 10 hurries and 18 pressures, according to Pro Football Focus and his 59.5 rating was the lowest of Georgia's five starters.
It was a group that underperformed considering the Bulldogs ranked second to last in the SEC in rushing despite having three players that were drafted last weekend— Tate Ratledge going in the second round and Dylan Fairchild and Jared Wilson in the third round.
Greene gave up two sacks in the Ole Miss game on Nov. 9 and Freeling started the rest of the season at left tackle. Greene battled through a shoulder injury that limited his reps in practice.
"I still think Earnest Greene had a solid year last year," said Xavier Truss , Georgia's starting right tackle last season who signed a free agent deal with the Broncos. "He struggled through I'm not going to say being hurt, he struggled through a legitimate injury last year."
Greene stepped in for a struggling Freeling in the Sugar Bowl loss to Notre Dame and then moved to right tackle for an injured Truss.
"He showed me his toughness as well as the rest of his teammates toughness," said Truss, who was roommates with Greene. "You all saw it when I came out of the Notre Dame game. I was struggling with a little bit of a foot thing. He came in and he held his own there. Earnest Greene, he's always going to be that dependable reliable guy. He's going to get the job done whether he's injured or not. It shows you right there the mental and physical toughness he has and that's something I think we need on this team."
Greene practiced through a dislocated finger this spring that required him to wear a club on it, coach Kirby Smart said.
"I told him it's going to be a chance to get a lot better because when he comes back with his use of his hand, he's going to be a lot better," Smart said.
Georgia's starting offensive line could also include senior Micah Morris at left guard, Drew Bobo at center and Daniel Calhoun at right guard.
"In order to play the offensive line, you have to communicate," Greene said. "Get five brains to come together as one."
Greene and Morris are the leaders on the revamped offensive line that Greene wasn't ready to give a status report on at the end of the spring.
"I'm not sure I know the answer to that question quite yet, but I feel like we're moving in the right direction," he said. "We're a little bit more eager. Last year's O-line we were really hungry, but this year we have a lot of young guys who maybe aren't as established as they want to be yet so they might be a little bit more hungry."
Greene certainly has the respect of his teammates.
"Love Earnest Greene," tight end Lawson Luckie said. "One of the best guys we've got. One of our best leaders, one of our toughest guys, most physical guys. That dude brings it every single day and he's always trying to bring people along with him."
This article originally appeared on Athens Banner-Herald: Georgia OT Earnest Greene brings 'toughness' in third season as starter
