Gamble gets his chance, leads defense

Athens —- After his two-interception, two-touchdown performance against LSU last weekend, Georgia linebacker Darryl Gamble said he was swamped with congratulatory phone calls and messages.

With one exception.

A call he received on the bus ride to the airport from injured teammate Dannell Ellerbe, whom Gamble replaced in the starting lineup, was a mix of happy and sad.

“I can’t comment on what he said,” Gamble said as a sheepish grin broke out across his face.

Pressed, Gamble said, “He was saying a little bit about how he wished that was him. I said, ‘You’ll have your opportunity in the future.’ “

They both may get chances against Florida on Saturday.

Georgia’s coaches have said that Ellerbe, a preseason All-SEC candidate at middle linebacker, will likely see some action. Ellerbe has missed the past three games, plus all but three snaps against Alabama, with a sprained left knee. He didn’t make the trip to Baton Rouge.

In the meantime, Gamble has become a breakout star. In the past two games, the sophomore from Bainbridge has 20 tackles, two interceptions, 93 return yards, one tackle for loss and a pass breakup.

As a result, Gamble is racking up regional and national awards. He was named SEC defensive player of the week Monday. He was also selected as the Bronko Nagurski national defensive player of the week Tuesday.

Gamble was asked Tuesday how his life has changed in the past week.

“It’s a lot more hectic,” he said. “A lot more people know who I am when I’m walking to class and stuff. I guess it’s more like being a Knowshon [Moreno] around campus. It’s pretty good for now.”

It’s also more stressful. Gamble’s only action in last year’s win over Florida came on the kickoff return and punt-block teams.

Now he is the central figure in a defense that is being asked to contain the SEC’s most explosive scoring offense.

“I really wasn’t as much in the game plans last year,” Gamble said, laughing at the understatement. “I was just enjoying the trip.”

Not this time.

“My role has turned a whole 180 [degrees],” Gamble said. “I guess this year I’ll start thinking about things a little more than how I’m going to block my guy on the kickoff.”

The good news is Gamble won’t have to go it alone. Coaches haven’t said how Ellerbe will be used, only that he will likely play. The past two games the rotation at the two inside positions has been limited to four players: Gamble, Akeem Dent, Rennie Curran and freshman Marcus Dowtin.

“To play really fast I think everyone on our team is going to need someone to sub for them,” coach Mark Richt said. “Guys who really, really run hard play after play and expend a lot of energy, we need to keep them rotating in and out of there.”

Curran, who starts on the weak side, likes the possibilities.

“They’re both great players and both great talents,” he said. “They have different styles of play. I feel like Dannell is more instinctive and Darryl is an awesome athlete. They both have great strengths and bring different things to the defense.”

Said Gamble: “I like playing middle, but wherever Coach wants me to play that’s where I’ll play. I know Dannell is a great player, too.”

And this time, Ellerbe can razz Gamble in person.

NEXT FOR GEORGIA

> Who: vs. Florida

> When: 3:30 p.m. Saturday

> TV; radio: CBS; 750 AM