ATHENS – Ben Cleveland didn’t get the opportunity that most highly-regarded recruits get when entering a Power Five program.

While a number of his classmates had the chance to play in their freshman seasons, the former four-star prospect would walk between the Sanford Stadium hedges with the uniform on, but didn’t get the chance to dirty it.

Cleveland saw slow development through Georgia’s preseason camp a year ago, and although the offensive line was depleted and unsettled throughout the season, the Bulldogs’ coaching staff opted to redshirt him.

“It’s a process,” said Frank Barden, who coached Cleveland at Stephens County High School from 2014-2015. “Developing as a major SEC athlete at a school like Georgia is a process. I don’t think you can go in automatically ready in that situation."

Not being on the field was tough for Cleveland after he had started for four seasons at Stephens County, playing a number of positions. However, the massive lineman was only 17 years old when entering his freshman season with the Bulldogs. His late August birthday led to the fact that despite being the biggest player on the team, he was also the youngest.

Barden noted that Cleveland’s time on the sideline allowed him to mature in a number of key areas

“I had expectations, and I’m sure he had expectations,” Barden said. “A lot of which he met, and some he probably didn’t. He learned from them as far as how to go about my business, preparation and even the college education itself. He just has to go through it, and that’s what went on his freshman year.”

Entering his second year at Georgia, Cleveland faces significant competition after the Bulldogs recently signed a highly-touted group of new linemen. Offensive line coach Sam Pittman added five top prospects to play key roles after he lost three linemen to graduation a year ago.

But Barden, who called Cleveland the biggest lineman he’s ever coached during his 33-year career, thinks the “off-the-chain” abilities of his former offensive lineman will allow Cleveland to earn playing time in his redshirt freshman campaign. For instance, while with the Indians, Cleveland had a 40-yard-dash time clocked at 5.00 seconds.

As preseason practice begins for Georgia, head coach Kirby Smart noted recently the offensive line will begin the same way it finished the spring: Isaiah Wynn at left tackle, Pat Allen at left guard, Lamont Gaillard at center, Solomon Kindley at right guard and Dyshon Sims at right tackle. All those spots are open to competition though.

“I think Georgia would like for him to be ready, and Ben would like to be ready,” Barden said. “Now, it’s up to Ben himself, and he controls his own destiny in the fact that he has the talent. The redshirt has prepared him for a lot of things he will face. I think he’s ready and I think he’ll be an asset to Georgia’s offensive line.”

Cleveland, a small-town guy out of Toccoa, brings a personality to the locker room in which Barden believes is an asset.

“He’s a very likable, mild-mannered guy,” Barden said. “He’s jovial, but when it’s time to get serious, he’s ready to play. On the other end of the pendulum, if you really push him and make him mad, he can really go. He has to learn to bring his talent and ability out when he needs to.”

Barden, while knowing Cleveland would be attributed as an offensive lineman during his recruiting process, tried him on defense and saw immediate results. While GHSA Class AAAA and SEC football aren’t on the same level, Cleveland's success at another position is indicative of what he can do.

“He played all over the place on the offensive line, but I’ll tell you where he was fun to watch: at defensive end,” Barden said. “You’ve got a 6-foot-7 defensive end that people won’t want to run at.”