Alumni Tate Ratledge recently made the National Football League’s (NFL) Detroit Lions’ final 53-man roster in August. Before being drafted 57th overall, Ratledge started 3 seasons with the 2-time national champion, Georgia Bulldogs, as a right guard. While at the University of Georgia, Ratledge won two national championships and was awarded All-American and All-SEC distinctions in both 2023 and 2024 as a key part of their offense. After an impressive preseason with the Lions, Ratledge made the final roster in his first year, earning the opportunity to travel with the team and step up as an NFL rookie, starting at right guard and occasionally at center for the Lions. The Lions are coming off a record-setting last season and are off to a strong start this season with a 2-1 record, most recently clenching a road victory against the Baltimore Ravens. Ratledge was thrown into the Lions’ offensive line in the preseason and looks to be a permanent member of the starting lineup, ranking and performing extremely well when compared to his veteran teammates.
“Tate Ratledge, I thought, looked like a starting NFL guard yesterday, which fires me up,” Lions head coach Dan Campbell said, according to the Detroit Lions.
Ratledge is hitting his marks now in the NFL, turning the heads of coaches and commentators, but he was acclaimed long before his professional debut. His blindingly bright future was evident to anyone who watched him play or knew him off the field. Assistant Athletic Director Kevin Hunt had the privilege of coaching Tate throughout his high school career.
“With his size and speed and athletic ability and work ethic, we all realized that Tate had the potential to take it all the way to the NFL,” Hunt said.
Ratledge was a 4-star recruit and pivotal player for the Tigers throughout high school while also a beloved teammate and friend; making an impact on and off the field. He displayed immense effort towards bettering himself as a player and also prioritized relationships with his teammates, a testament to his great character.
“Tate, always had great size and great strength, but Tate was also a great teammate,” Hunt said. “I think that’s what made him so good, and over the years, he worked really, really hard to get better at football, and as everybody can see that’s paid off.”
Ratledge’s college career had a rocky start with injuries, but in his true fashion he battled through it, proving his dependability and commitment to his teammates and fans. His character and values are continuously praised by former coaches, including Georgia head coach Kirby Smart.
“What a player Tate Ratledge is,” Kirby Smart said, according to Yahoo Sports. “The Lions are so lucky to have him. You [Tate] provided a lot of energy and life to this program and I can’t thank you enough for your leadership here.”