Chambliss, Greene discuss fall 2024 football camp

UGA football senior outside linebacker Chaz Chambliss and redshirt sophomore offensive lineman Earnest Greene, III spoke to the media on Thursday about Georgia’s fall 2024 football camp.

Below is a transcript of the fall camp comments that was provided by UGA:

#32 Chaz Chambliss | OLB | Sr.

On why the second scrimmage is the most important and what the defense needs to improve ahead of Saturday…
“We always say that because we want to see growth from the first scrimmage to the second scrimmage. The first scrimmage was the first time putting pads on since spring. That’s a long time to go without live tackling. It’s a lot of time to go without actually going into a game-like simulation. And, going from last week into this week, we just want to see everybody be freer, be looser, play the game like how they want to play. Just be physical and tough and outcompete, outhustle, and be everything our defense wants to be.”

On why he says that the Georgia offense is the best in the country…
“I firmly believe we always have the best offense in the country. Consistently our O-line, what they gave up nine sacks last year in total? That’s less than one a game, way less than one a game. We have some of the best talent in the world, and collectively with the best coaches, the coaches take that talent and put it into a system that plays to everybody’s strengths. Every day that we’re out there, we just know there’s going to be wins and losses. They’re just as talented as us on defense, and they’re just experienced. I mean, our O-line, we lost two guys maybe last year? Sedrick [Van Pran-Granger], was the main one. We have a lot of returning experience too.”

On his recollections of playing against Clemson in the 2021 season opener…
“Obviously, it’s just that first experience as a freshman, walking into a stadium, especially a game with that high of a caliber. It was a lot of anticipation going into that game, but I think our coaches did a great job of making it not about them and about us at that point. Just everybody doing their own jobs the first game of the season. Their offense or defense could have come out in any formation, could have ran any plays, but that first game of season is always about the fundamentals, and the things you do in the offseason get you ready for it.”

On ways that he increases team energy as a leader…
“It’s all about figuring out what each player needs. In the offseason we get to know every single person, what their “why” is, their story, and most guys don’t react to criticism the same way. One of my guys could mess up and one of them, I need to get on them, tell them that they need to do this, this and this. Another one, I need to be caring, and you let them know that next play, he can make it better. He can make up for it. It’s all about knowing who your players are and who your teammates are at this time, and just not trying to beat a nail. You’re coached hard by the coaches, you’re going to get yelled at by the coaches, but us as teammates got to have each other’s backs, because obviously it’s hot out there. It’s going on two weeks straight of practice, people’s bodies hurt, but just knowing each other and going through it.”

#71 Earnest Greene, III | OL | R-So.

On areas where he has improved since arriving at Georgia…
“As a man and a person off the field I’ve grown so much, and I feel like I can help the team attack stuff more on the field too as far as with my mindset and how I approach things. I’d definitely say I’m a different person from my first year.”

On how he would rate Tate Ratledge playing center and how the line is performing behind him…
“Center is one of those tricky positions that takes a lot of chemistry in everything for everybody to mesh. Tate is doing a good job in there. It’s Tate Ratledge, so he’s a heck of a football player in there, getting the chemistry down. Like I said earlier, center is one of those positions where you have to have chemistry to mesh.”

On his impressions of Nate Frazier and how he’s looking as a young running back…
“Although Nate went to Mater Dei – he went to my rival high school – there hasn’t been a person from where I’m from, honestly, on the team. We have some California guys but no one from Los Angeles County. Seeing Nate, it just brings a smile to my face. Seeing a guy from where I’m from makes me feel a little bit of home. He’s doing pretty well. He’s one of those guys in that really explosive running back room, so I’d love to see what we’ll do in the future.”

—

The Georgia Bulldogs are set to open the 2024 season against the Clemson Tigers in the Aflac Kickoff Game at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, Ga., on Saturday, Aug. 31. The game will be televised live by ABC at noon ET (Buy Tickets).

2024 UGA Football Schedule