It appears as though Kirby Smart’s Georgia Bulldogs are dealing with the injury bug already — even if they are only a few weeks removed from the end of the 2024 college football season.
As reported by On3Sports college football analyst and reporter Jake Rowe, Bulldogs offensive lineman Monroe Freeling has undergone a successful shoulder surgery. As a result, he is expected to be out of action for at least some portion of spring training.
What Did Jake Rowe Report About Monroe Freeling?
Freeling was widely expected to move into the starting lineup next season, but his surgery may have complicated that. It is unclear at this time whether he’ll keep his starting job or if he’ll have to win it back.
Rowe outlined on Monday that Freeling was expected to miss some of the Bulldogs’ preparations for next season due to the injury. He detailed how this could result in Freeling either being limited in or completely missing portions of their spring drills.
Despite this report, Rowe did conclude by highlighting how Freeling was “expected to be back at full strength in plenty of time for preseason camp” in the fall.
Monroe Freeling’s 2025 Season Projection
Freeling is a Charleston, South Carolina, native who played his high school football at Oceanside Collegiate Academy in Mount Pleasant. The 6’7″, 315-pound offensive lineman appeared in several games this year, but he started in less than half of them.
In College Football Network’s 2024 All-SEC College Football Team and Individual Honors, Freeling was listed as an Honorable Mention All-SEC at the offensive tackle position.
Though he did not earn All-SEC honors this season, he does project to be an important member of the Bulldogs’ offense and a top NFL prospect if he can stay healthy and continue his strong play.
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Freeling showcased his strong pass- and run-blocking abilities this year, but he should have a much greater chance to show off his skills next season in a more prominent role.
While the Bulldogs had a successful year and made the College Football Playoff this past season as the No. 2 seed, they were eliminated in the quarterfinals by the Notre Dame Fighting Irish, who went on to play in the national championship against the Ohio State Buckeyes.
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