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"They should never leave the field." That's what Georgia Bulldogs safety Shawn Williams said about the playing time of inside linebackers Amarlo Herrera and Alec Ogletree. This hasn't made fellow inside linebacker Michael Gilliard all too happy.
The fifth-year senior linebacker responded that Williams "said my name without saying my name." And now he's motivated. Gilliard said, "No disrespect to Amarlo Herrera and Alec Ogletree, those are great players. But when I read that, I felt disrespected, and I'm definitely taking it personally."
Gilliard currently ranks fifth on the team in total tackles with 34 -- one tackle ahead of Ogletree. Last year, Gilliard was third on the team.
Williams does have some position to speak on the matter, ranking first in tackles for the Bulldogs this season and last. But Gilliard insists there is "no issue" between he and Williams. That won't stop the senior from using it as motivation, however, wanting to prove his worth to the defense:
And that started today. Matter of fact, you can ask any of my teammates. Today, I was just upset today at practice. So today, anytime the ball carrier came my way I tried to knock the s--- out of him.
The Bulldogs' defense currently ranks 47th nationally in total yards and carries the task of stopping the No. 2 Florida Gators this Saturday in Jacksonville.