Mount Pleasant’s Monroe Freeling shines as state’s top player
MOUNT PLEASANT, S.C. (BVM) – South Carolina features plenty of high school football talent, but Monroe Freeling stands above the rest. The 6-foot-7, 285-pound offensive tackle continues to prove why he is the state’s top player on the field with Oceanside Collegiate Academy.
Freeling is No. 63 in 247Sports’ composite rankings for the Class of 2023, and the nation’s eighth-best offensive tackle. He is solid in the run game, continues to develop his pass blocking and is an athletic player who can move well considering his size.
Love the upside of OT @FreelingMonroe – @UANextFootball @JohnGarcia_Jr #UnderArmour pic.twitter.com/rVLlF9SPXk
— Brian Smith (@fbscout_florida) February 27, 2022
In addition, Freeling has a 7-foot wingspan, which has benefitted him both on the gridiron and on the hardwood at Oceanside Collegiate.
Stop 🅿️laying with me‼️ @landsharkhoops @CoachRivens76 @SWiltfong247 @RivalsFriedman @ChadSimmons_ pic.twitter.com/qxIRyJeo6e
— Monroe Freeling (@FreelingMonroe) February 5, 2022
Last season, the lineman was part of an Oceanside Collegiate football team that fell one game short of the state championship as Freeling was named SCHSL AAA Region VIII Lineman of the Year. Following a strong start this fall, Freeling and the Landsharks could very well be in the same position towards the home stretch of the 2022 season.
However, one of Freeling’s biggest moments since the season started came off the field, as he made his long-awaited college commitment. Since his strong performance at Oceanside Collegiate last season, the four-star lineman racked up over two dozen college offers. On Aug. 29, Freeling officially announced he will be attending the University of Georgia to play for Kirby Smart and the reigning national champion Bulldogs, choosing Georgia out of a final five that included Clemson, Florida, Miami and Alabama.
The moment he made it official ‼️
4⭐️ OT Monroe Freeling commits to Georgia.
The Bulldogs rise to No. 3 in the 247Sports rankings 🏈 pic.twitter.com/SYwgraIyGN
— 247Sports (@247Sports) August 30, 2022
Freeling is a top-five player in Georgia’s 2023 class and the Bulldogs’ top-rated offensive lineman coming in. His commitment elevated the defending champs to the nation’s third-ranked 2023 recruiting class, and Freeling joins Bo Hughley and Kelton Smith as four-star offensive line recruits in the class.
Meanwhile, Freeling is also following the same path as another former high school star from South Carolina: Tyrion Ingram-Dawkins of Gaffney. Ingram-Dawkins was the No. 1 recruit coming out of the Palmetto State in the Class of 2021 and signed to play at Georgia. Now, the 6-foot-5, 300-pound defensive lineman is seeing action in a reserve role in Athens during his redshirt freshman season.
Freeling will be another top South Carolina recruit looking to make an early impact with the Bulldogs, who have become perennial national championship contenders under Smart. But first, he will conclude his high school career in Mount Pleasant, continuing to make his hometown proud.
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