ATHENS — Georgia football team leader Chaz Chambliss knows the drill after four spring ball sessions and 40 games wearing the “G.”

These are the “Dawg” Days of summer, and head coach Kirby Smart is turning the heat up on his players to get them ready for what promises to be a hard-hitting battle with Clemson on Aug, 31.

Nothing comes easy in a championship program, and Chambliss knows that when “elite” is the expectation on every play in every practice, it can wear players down.

“You’re coached hard by the coaches, you’re going to get yelled at by the coaches, Chambliss said, explaining how Georgia players push through.

“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 … "

And that’s where experienced leaders like Chambliss step in and step up.

“It’s all about figuring out what each player needs,” Chambliss said, sharing his leadership style. “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.”

The versatile 6-foot-2, 250-pound Chambliss has a thankless job at his position, responsible for taking on offensive tackles that can out-weigh him by 100 pounds one one play, while chasing down ball carries that weigh 70 pounds less and border on world-class speed.

Chambliss, more than once referred to as the hardest worker on the team, knows better than to waver at this stage of the offseason.

Teammates rally around the strength, positive attitude and perspective that team leaders like Chambliss possess.

Smart challenged his team after Scrimmage One last Saturday, critical of the lack of enthusiasm and the breakdown in execution,

Chambliss, always careful to respect his head coach, carried on that message while sharing how the Bulldogs’ plan to attack this Saturday’s scrimmage.

“…. 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, (and) that’s a long time to go without live tackling,” Chambliss said.

“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, out-hustle, and be everything our defense wants to be.”

It will be quite a challenge with quarterback Carson Beck and his celebrated offensive line on the other side of the ball.

“I firmly believe we always have the best offense in the country,” Chambliss said. “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.”

Chambliss pride in his program and teammates is the stuff championships are made of, his messaging on point and his dedication unquestioned.

Georgia played three of the top six teams on the road in 2024, and it would seem the odds would be against an undefeated season.

But with leadership like Chambliss displays, effort and attitude do not figure to be a problem.

Indeed, players like Chaz Chambliss are at the heart of the solution.