Despite being a true freshman, Juan Gaston is already competing for meaningful snaps upfront along Georgia's offensive line.
It’s not often that a true freshman can go in and immediately receive first-team reps at Georgia. That is especially true with the offensive line. Juan Gaston could be one of those rare exceptions.
Kirby Smart confirmed UGASports‘ earlier report that the Westlake High School product was taking reps with the first-team offense during Saturday’s scrimmage.
“Juan got to get in better shape. He’s a talented player, but he plays a lot of snaps, …” Smart said. “They just can’t handle the volume, the practice load that they get. And he’s growing at that. He’s lost 25, 30 pounds since being here, but he continues to work hard and work with the ones and the twos in pickups, pass pro pickups, and the different things he has to do.”
At 6-foot-7 and 360 pounds, the Atlanta native was the nation’s No. 62 player in the 2025 class, No. 4 interior offensive lineman, and No. 8 prospect from Georgia.
As a mid-year enrollee, Gaston not only got to go through the winter conditioning program and spring practice, but also got a head start on getting down to the playing weight that Georgia wants him.
And while Smart acknowledged there is still work to be done on that front, Gaston is already in a position battle for immediate playing time at right guard, where he competes against two second-year players in Daniel Calhoun and Michael Uini.
“I’ve been really impressed with Juan. I think he’s done a really good job. Just, I mean, he’s huge. He takes up space. He literally, when he’s blocking somebody on film, it looks like he just engulfs them, cuz you can’t even see him anymore,” Georgia center Drew Bobo said. “But I would enjoy playing next to him when I’ve got the chance to. And I think he’s done a really good job.”
Category: General Sports
