Georgia Football: Preseason Press Conference – Defense
By Danny Bishop
Mark Richt, photo by Danny Bishop
Georgia head coach Mark Richt and a delegation of football players met with the media Thursday during the Bulldog’s annual preseason media day. They offered the following comments:
Coach Mark Richt
On Reggie Carter …
“Reggie is going to get a lot of reps. He’s starting out as the No. 2 linebacker, but he’ll get plenty of work and plenty of opportunity to prove that he deserves to play. Right now he’s still fighting for playing time, and he’s fighting for a starting position as well. The big thing for a true freshman if you can’t win the starting job – and I’m not saying he can’t – but just earn enough of the coaches’ faith and confidence that you get in the game. Then when you get in the game, if you play well in the game it’s going to extend your playing time.”
On Garrison Smith…
“I met his parents, and he comes from a wonderful family. He has come a long, long way. He still has a wonderful sense of humor, but back then he was just immature almost like all of us were at that age. He has worked and he has some experience. He’s earned the right to be a leader on this football team. That’s why we took him to Birmingham (to SEC Media Days).
On the players’ free time during preseason camp…
“There’s just a little bit of down time in between meals. They’ll be gathered up in the locker room or in the player lounge, and I’m sure they’re having a good time. The bonding time is a good time for those guys.”
On what players have emerged as leaders leading into camp…
“I know one guy who really has worked hard all summer and was part of the leadership group that Murray put together that people would be surprised to hear would be Brandon Burrows. He has really has done a good job of trying to help young players learn what to do when they roll into town. Throughout the summer he was encouraging his guys to get there and get the job done during a lot of the player-led stuff that we do in the summer. He’s bought in. I don’t know what his role is going to be on the field, but his attitude is whatever I can do to help this team win, I’m here to help.”
Jordan Jenkins, photo by Sonny Kennedy, http://www.sonnykennedyphotography.com/
Sophomore Outside Linebacker Jordan Jenkins
On being a defensive leader…
“It’s something that I’m finally getting used to. I’m usually asking other people because I just learned the system last year. I’d be asking Jarvis (Jones) or Cornelius (Washington) what the plays were, and now I’ve got everybody asking me about the plays. It’s something different.”
On offseason motivation levels…
“I just used the fact that we were that close to winning the SEC Championship last year. I actually saw the game a couple of days ago, and I couldn’t finish it. I have to think of that game every time the thought of taking an easy route even crosses my mind because that’s motivation enough right there. I turned off the last four or five minutes of the game, and that’s the first time I’ve watched even a piece of that game again.”
Junior Inside Linebacker Amarlo Herrera
On being a leader on defense…
“It’s nothing different you’ve just go to do what you’ve been doing and don’t try to over do yourself, don’t try to do something that’s not you just be yourself. That’s what I’m doing I’m just being myself and working hard.”
On who he learned from last year in a leadership sense…
“I learned a lot from Shawn Williams, he wasn’t really a guy that said a lot but when he talked he meant it and people listened and he always gave his all and worked hard on the field so I look up to that guy.”
Garrison Smith, photo by Sonny Kennedy, http://www.sonnykennedyphotography.com/
Senior DE Garrison Smith
On the start of camp…
“I’m excited. After being in the program for three years, it’s easy. We’re working really hard, though, and camp is still challenging. It’s really helpful, and that’s the way I look at it. This camp is necessary for us to have a good season. You have to have that outlook about it, and you have to have perspective of what this camp is going to help us do.”
On the preseason No. 5 ranking…
“I feel good about it. I’m thankful that coaches think highly of us like that, but at the same time, rankings don’t really mean anything until you actually go out there and play. That’s when I’ll be happy – when the season goes on and we actually earn our ranking. That’s when it’s going to matter.”
Photos copyrighted property of Sonny Kennedy,
http://www.sonnykennedyphotography.com/