WATCH: Georgia OL Ben Cleveland named one of the top ‘freaks’ in college football

Ben Cleveland has long been one of the most imposing members of the Georgia football team. Listed at 6-foot-6 and 330 pounds, Cleveland always managed to stand out in part because of his incredible physique.

If Game of Thrones were still cool, this is where we would throw a reference to how Cleveland is Georgia’s version of The Mountain.

Cleveland’s size and strength have long been known by those who follow the Georgia program. And it seems like the rest of college football now knows about how gifted Cleveland is, as The Athletic’s Bruce Feldman named Cleveland one of the biggest Freaks in college football.

Feldman specifically highlighted Cleveland’s strength, calling him, “one of the strongest men in football.”

“That’s something Georgia strength coach Scott Sinclair showed off early on in the big man’s career when he tweeted video of Cleveland repping out single-arm dumbbell presses with 160 pounds,” Feldman wrote.  ” NFL personnel folks say they expect Cleveland to make a serious push down the road at the combine bench press record of 49.

“Cleveland also runs surprisingly well for his mammoth size and is expected to run the 40 in the 5.0 range.”

Cleveland returned to Georgia for his senior season and with 16 starts under his belt he’s one of the most experienced members on a Georgia offensive line that saw a lot of turnover from 2019. In addition to Andrew Thomas, Solomon Kindley and Isaiah Wilson all being drafted, Cade Mays, who Cleveland split starts with at right guard, transferred to Tennessee.

The offensive line also has a new position coach, with Matt Luke taking over for Sam Pittman. Pittman took the head coaching job at Arkansas, while Luke was the head coach at Ole Miss last season. The change in coaches could also signal a change in playing style, as Pittman preferred a heavier offensive line. Luke, and new offensive coordinator Todd Monken, may be looking for a more nimble, athletic offensive line, as evidenced by Jamaree Salyer dropping from 345 pounds to 315 pounds to better play tackle.

Cleveland is the only starter from the 2018 National Championship Game against Alabama that is still on the Georgia roster. He’s also one of just two members from Kirby Smart’s 2016 signing class still on the team, along with defensive lineman Julian Rochester.

Cleveland is the favorite to be the starting right guard for Georgia this season. But how will he look in a new offense? And what about the rest of the offensive line?

DawgNation’s Connor Riley discusses that and more in the video below.

Among the other topics discussed in the video:

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