Maturity, Experience and a Podcast Help Tate Ratledge Take on New Leadership Roles
Georgia offensive guard Tate Ratledge is hard to miss.
He stands at 6-6, weighs 310 lbs., and uses every bit of that frame to bully opponents on the football field. With his helmet off, he sports a mullet that's become his signature look in recent years, making him one of the many "icons" of the modern Georgia football teams.
We've all become familiar with the sight of Ratledge, but as he's progressed into a redshirt junior, the sound of the Tate Ratledge product is becoming louder and more pronounced.
He's no longer the quiet, camera-shy kid who came to Athens from Rome, Ga's Darlington School in 2020. He's entering his second year as Georgia's starter at right guard, third if you count his opening day start in 2021 in which he suffered a season-ending injury. That experience has helped him break out of his shell to become one of Georgia's vocal leaders on the offensive line.
"The biggest thing I've worked on is trying to become more of a vocal leader on the team," Ratledge said to media on Wednesday. "Which has always been not one of my strong things; [I've] never been a big vocal guy.
"So, I've been challenged to step into that role and speak up more and not just let [Sedrick Van Pran-Granger] be the only leader of our offensive line. I have his back on things and I step out and say things more."
To this point, Ratledge has been able to be a listener on the offensive line. Ratledge joined a Georgia o-line led by Ben Cleveland, Trey Hill and Jamaree Salyer in 2020. Van Pran-Granger stepped into a leadership role last season as a redshirt sophomore.
All the while, Ratledge improved on the field, won the starting job as a redshirt freshman in 2021, and re-earned the job as a sophomore in 2022 following a season-ending injury. Victories on the field helped, Ratledge gain more confidence on the sidelines and in the locker room.
"I think I'm a lot more confident in my abilities," he said. "Last year, going into the season, I definitely had some doubts about myself and my game. Since then, I've had more time to work on that and get comfortable in my position and the guys around me."
That confidence is on full display away from the field as well. Ratledge is the co-host of the Real Talk Player Podcast. There, he has honed his vocal prowess and discovered a charisma he certainly didn't have as a freshman.
"It definitely makes more more comfortable," he said. "When I first got here, in front of a camera, I hated it. But now I'm definitely more comfortable around it. I think [the podcast] has helped me talking-wise, and speaking up in front of a large group of people."
Other Georgia News:
- Despite Injuries, Smart Bullish on Georgia's Running Backs
- Practice Observations - Georgia Priming for Second Scrimmage
- Preseason All-SEC Teams Released
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