Photos: Meet Sam Madden, offensive tackle

Sports

Sam Madden is from Barnegat, N.J. But after he signed a football scholarship with Georgia, he and his family have moved to Braselton, where he lived and trained until reporting to campus with the rest of the Bulldogs earlier this month. Madden, a 6-foot-6, 330-pound offensive lineman, is the latest subject in our "Next Generation" series on some of Georgia's most intriguing incoming freshmen.

The Maddens are a close-knit family. So close, the entire clan moved to Georgia from New Jersey along with Bulldogs offensive line signee Sam Madden. They are (l-r) Rachel, Sam, Kathleen, Dave and Naomi. (AJC/Chip Towers)

Sam Madden was home-schooled by his mother, Kathleen, until he entered high school. He struggled at Barnegat High until he was diagnosed with ADHD and other neuropsychiatric disorders after ninth grade. Since then, he has been able to control the disorders through medication and has become an excellent student. (AJC/Chip Towers)

Sam Madden (third from right) never expected to be at the University of Georgia. He committed as a junior to Wisconsin, where his cousin John Moffitt starred as an offensive lineman from 2007-10. This photo was taken shortly after he committed to Badgers last year at Arbor Athletes gym where he trained. With him (l-r) are owners Dave Klemic and Ian Walterson and trainer Kevin Fernsler. (Special photo)

The fact that Madden ended up training at Hammer Smith Sports Performance in Norcross is an interesting one that involves connections between Barnegat, N.J., and Braselton, Ga. (AJC/Chip Towers)

Turns out that Zach Smith's father, Chip Smith, had trained Sam Madden's trainer in New Jersey, Dave Klemic, many years ago. Madden learned of this from John Loudermilk, an assistant football coach at Mill Creek High School, who he happened to run into while making a training run. (AJC/Chip Towers)

Sam Madden describes himself as a gym rat. He said he has been working out under the guidance of trainers since he was 12 years old. (AJC/Chip Towers)

Under the watchful eye of Zach Smith and the staff at Hammer Smith Sports, Madden trained five days a week for as many six or seven hours on some days for nearly a month before reporting to UGA. (AJC/Chip Towers)

Sam Madden, who weighs 330 pounds, can do several pull-ups. He did five in this set. Despite the Bulldogs having four returning starters on the offensive line, he said he plans to contend for playing time this season. (AJC/Chip Towers)

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Sam Madden packs a lot of personality into his 6-foot-6, 330-pound frame. Asked to sit for a portrait for his "Next Generation" profile, this is the pose he struck.

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