Georgia Bulldogs: 5 impact freshmen for 2016
By John Buhler
Ben Cleveland is a four-star offensive tackle prospect out of Stephens County High School in Toccoa, Georgia. He Committed to the G with five-star quarterback Jacob Eason back in July 2014 and was a primary recruiter for his recruiting class.
Cleveland early enrolled at UGA and played in the US Army All-America Bowl in San Antonio before arriving for Spring Semester classes in January. He has the build to play either swing tackle or drop into guard as a true freshman.
With both starting tackles John Theus and Kolton Houston having graduated from UGA, there are at least two vacant spots on the Georgia Bulldogs offensive line in 2016. Returning starters Brandon Kublanow, Greg Pyke, and Isaiah Wynn will all probably keep their jobs, but a player of Ben Cleveland’s caliber could assert himself into the mix in spring practice.
Georgia lucked out in getting arguably the best offensive line coach in the country in Sam Pittman, formerly of the Arkansas Razorbacks, to join Jim Chaney’s offensive staff in Athens this season.
Enrolling early, having the build and mental makeup to play multiple positions, and availability on the offensive line under a new coaching staff all falls heavily in favor of Ben Cleveland being able to carve out at least a rotational role, possibly a starting role on Pittman’s 2016 offensive line.
Next: 3. Mecole Hardman, Jr.