Matured Tate Ratledge taking steps as leader for Georgia Football

ATHENS, Ga. — Georgia offensive lineman Tate Ratledge made his first career start three seasons ago as the Bulldogs opened the 2021 campaign against Clemson. A former four-star and the No. 4 offensive tackle out coming of Darlington School in Rome, Ga. in the Class of 2020, Ratledge found his home at guard at the collegiate level. He played just one series that season, hobbling off to the sideline with a broken foot that ended his season.

Three years later, it’ll be the same opponent opposite of him as Ratledge gets his senior season underway. Georgia opens with Clemson in Atlanta, and for Ratledge, it’s a chance to show just how far he’s come.

“Not taking it for granted,” Ratledge told reporters Thursday when asked what his biggest area of growth has been since that last outing against Clemson. “I just got asked about camp a minute ago, and I was like, ‘It’s football. This is the fun part of what we do.’ I definitely don’t take football for granted seeing as how fast it can be taken away from me. I think that gave me a chance to mature and kind of stick to the older player’s hips and learn from them.”

Kirby Smart sees that maturation happening too. Having made 27 career starts and earned All-American honors last season from the Associated Press, Ratledge is looked to as a leader by his Bulldog teammates both on the field and off of it.

“His maturity has grown. He’s always been a great practice player. He loves football. He’s become, kind of a centerpiece of that group,” Smart said of Ratledge. “I think him coming back, just validated to the others that he wanted to do something special.”

“Both he and Truss made that decision. Their leadership has been the different mindset, at least in the spring, in terms of our identity on offense and what they want in terms of forcing people and being physical,” Smart continued. “I can see it. It permeated our spring with the physicality that our offensive line played with. They have to continue to do that because they’ll be challenged this year.”

Ratledge understands what’s asked of him as a veteran. His voice carries weight, and when Ratledge speaks, his teammates listen.

Ratledge has watched over the years as guys like Broderick Jones and Sedrick Van Pran stepped into leadership roles. Now it’s his turn to take on the responsibility.

“Definitely more vocal than I’ve been,” Ratledge said when asked about his leadership style. “I’ve been in a room with Sed who’s one of the best leaders I’ve ever been around. I’ve never really had to be that guy, but this year in our locker room, I am going to have to be that guy and kind of get people going.”

“I’m an older guy. People listen to me. Stepping into that role is going to be something big for me during this camp,” he added. “You’ve got to be that guy sometimes during camp when you’re tired, you’re worn out, you’re hurt. Somebody’s got to be able to bring people up.”

Ratledge has things he wants to accomplish on the field too. Aside from target numbers in the weight room, this offseason has been about improving his hands. It’s an area of his game that he notices on tape and one that could take things to another level.

As Ratledge said, arriving to camp comes with mixed emotions for many. Yes, it’s going to be tough with the heat of an August in Athens, but this is what they came here to do – play football. That time has finally come, and before the Bulldogs know it, kickoff will be here too.

“I look forward to it. It’s football. It’s the fun part of what we do,” Ratledge said. “We’re not out there running or slinging weight around. It’s football. It’s what we’re here for. It’s what we do. I think that’s something you look forward to every year, and when you get older, you figure that out. These younger guys will figure that out at some point. It took me some time to figure that out.”

Georgia kicks off against Clemson at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta on August 31st. Both the Bulldogs and Tigers are expected to be included in the preseason top-20 when polls are released later this month.