REPORT: Ben Cleveland to miss Sugar Bowl

It looks like the Bulldogs will be missing another lineman in their bowl game, this time being redshirt junior Ben Cleveland. 

According to a report from Dawgs247, Cleveland will miss UGA’s Sugar Bowl matchup against Baylor after being ruled academically ineligible. Kirby Smart was unable to confirm that report at his early signing day press conference. 

It’s a tough hit to Georgia’s offensive line. Yesterday, both left tackle Andrew Thomas and right tackle Isaiah Wilson both announced that they would forgo their remaining eligibility and the bowl game to pursue an NFL career. 

Georgia has plenty of talented players to fill in for that trio, all though not as experienced. The Bulldogs will still have Cade Mays, tho UGA can deploy almost anywhere on the offensive line, but most likely at left tackle for the Sugar Bowl. Jamaree Salyer will likely be the pick at right tackle, getting one start there earlier this season. 

For the guard spot, that becomes the toughest call. If Justin Shaffer’s neck injury heals up by the new year, he would be the likely pick. Otherwise, Georgia will have to go with someone with far less experience, someone like Warren Erickson.