College Football Network recently released its preseason All-American honors for the 2024 season, with five Georgia Bulldogs receiving national attention, third-most of any team in the country behind only Ohio State (10) and Oregon (7).
Which standouts from the national title favorites were singled out for significant praise ahead of the 2024 college football campaign? Let’s find out!
Which Georgia Players Earned CFN All-American Honors?
Georgia has won 46 of its last 48 contests, with the only two blemishes coming against Alabama in the SEC Championship Game (2021, 2023).
Though their quest to three-peat was stopped when they finished fifth in the final release of the College Football Playoff rankings, the 2024 roster remains filled with NFL-caliber talent.
Four of the five Georgia players to earn CFN All-American honors come from the offensive side of the ball, led by returning quarterback Carson Beck and three members of CFN’s Preseason Offensive Line of the Year.
The lone exception is Safety of the Year and First-Team All-American Malaki Starks, who will lead a defense coming off what many considered a “down” year despite ranking among the FBS top-10 in both total defense (9th) and scoring defense (5th).
Starks and the defense will hope to improve upon ranking outside the top 60 in both turnovers forced (69th) and sacks (66th) a season ago.
Here’s what CFN Executive Director Cam Mellor had to say about Georgia’s All-American honorees.
Malaki Starks, S (Safety of the Year, First-Team All-American)
Exploding onto the scene as a true freshman, Malaki Starks took his game to the next level in 2023. Starks spent time dominating from either safety spot, but shined brightest when he was able to roam free and let his athletic ability be put on display.
His versatility shows through when he’s coming down him in the run game on one play or dropping back into coverage and showing of his range in coverage by batting passes down on a complete other side of the field all the same.
At 6’1″ and 205 pounds, Starks has the ideal size of a true cover safety, but his frame has allowed him more strength at the point of attack than it may indicate. Starks is an all-around elite player in every facet.
Tate Ratledge, G (First-Team All-American)
A dominating physical force, Tate Ratledge had to wait his turn for two seasons until he finally got his shot in 2022. He followed up a dominant 2022 season with a downright brilliant 2023 and he’s back to finish off his career with a bang for the Bulldogs.
Ratledge is big and mean, physical and athletically gifted. At 6’6″ and 310 pounds, he’s shaped like a tackle but has big-man moves on the inside. A sound run blocker, Ratledge has the anchor of a highly-paid left tackle when it comes to pass protection.
He does it all at elite levels, and for one last season, Ratledge is back to prove he’s in the conversation as the top interior blocker in all of college football.
Georgia (Offensive Line of the Year)
Across their front, there is no better offensive line returning to college football than the Bulldogs. From left to right: Earnest Greene III, Dylan Fairchild, Jared Wilson, Tate Ratledge, and Xavier Truss represent arguably the best five-a-side we’ve seen in some time.
In fact, those five could all hear their names called early next April, if not bring home some serious hardware in December as well. Greene III is the relative newcomer on the left side, but presents with the most upside.
All together, this group makes up a massive thorn in the sides of every Bulldog opponent this season. Or better yet, as a pancake block likely coming their way.
Full List of Georgia Players Earning CFN All-American Honors
- Offensive Line of the Year
- Malaki Starks, S (Safety of the Year, First-Team All-American)
- Tate Ratledge, G (First-Team All-American)
- Carson Beck, QB (Second-Team All-American)
- Dylan Fairchild, G (Third-Team All-American)
- Earnest Greene III, OT (Honorable Mention All-American)
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