Ratledge was born in Chattanooga, Tennessee, and grew up in Rome, Georgia.[2] He attended Darlington School, where he competed in football, basketball and track and field.[3] Coming out of high school Ratledge was ranked the number 39 overall player in the 2020 class, the number five rank at his position and number six in the state of Georgia.[4] Ratledge committed to play college football at the University of Georgia over Tennessee, whom he grew up rooting for.[5]
College career
As a freshman in 2020, Ratledge played in just one game, playing a total of seven snaps.[6] He earned a starting spot as a sophomore ahead of the season opener against Clemson, but suffered a Lisfranc ligament fracture in a foot after just four snaps and missed the rest of the season.[7] In the 2022 season, Ratledge started 14 of the team's 15 games, only missing one game against Kentucky. He also got a start in the Bulldogs' two playoffs games, including in the 2023 College Football Playoff National Championship.[8]
Ratledge was ranked the seventh best returning interior offensive lineman by Pro Football Focus ahead of the 2023 season.[9] Ratledge was named preseason first-team all-SEC.[10] Ratledge was also named to the watchlists of multiple awards, such as the Outland Trophy and the Lombardi Award.[11][12]