Ratledge has been a starter on Georgia’s interior offensive line throughout the past three seasons, and helped the Bulldogs win a national championship in 2022. He is a two-time All-SEC selection and was a first-team All-American in 2024.
Ratledge arrived at Georgia in 2020 and has become a fan favorite thanks in part to his trademark mullet. He battled injuries throughout his career, with his latest being an ankle injury he suffered against Kentucky last season that forced him to miss four games before returning against Florida.
Ratledge was known as one of Georgia’s most important leaders and veteran presences. After Georgia’s loss to Notre Dame in the Sugar Bowl, head coach Kirby Smart sat with Ratledge and linebacker Jalon Walker in front of reporters, and talked about what the two players meant to the program.
“What they did with this team in the toughest year of at least my tenure, easily the toughest year, they dominated the room,” Smart said. “They controlled the room. They led the room through hard games and situations. There were some hard games and situations. I’ll never forget this guy against Georgia Tech chasing everybody down telling them to stay in the game, hope’s still alive. This guy doing the coin toss and saying we’re about to win this game in overtime. And I know today will be written about and that’s fine, but these two guys right here are as special as they come.”
Ratledge’s experience, leadership ability and toughness will all serve him well as he prepares for the draft. His IQ and pedigree make him more ready to “plug and play” right away than most guard prospects in the class.
Georgia is in a period of high roster turnover following its loss to Notre Dame in the College Football Playoff. Multiple players, including quarterback Jaden Rashada and wide receiver Anthony Evans III have entered the transfer portal, while Georgia has gotten commitments from USC transfers and brothers Zion and Zachariah Branch. Ratledge joins quarterback Carson Beck as the second Bulldog to declare for the draft.
