Deebo Samuel's first memory of Georgia rivalry: "The ground was shaking"

South Carolina WR Deebo Samuel has played in two games against Georgia, but there was one that stood out to him when he didn’t participate.

His true freshman season, when he redshirted in 2014, Samuel recalled the spirited atmosphere of the game in Williams-Brice Stadium, which South Carolina won 38-35. Samuel said he didn’t watch much football growing up, so he wasn’t up to speed on the Georgia series.

“I remember how loud it was and the ground was shaking,” Samuel said Tuesday. “That’s how I knew Georgia was a rivalry for us.”

Samuel noticed something different at practice earlier Tuesday.

“If you were out there today, you could see there was more energy, more focus going on there this week than there was last week,” he said.

Samuel did not play in last year’s game against Georgia, but two years ago, he caught four passes for 90 yards. In 2015, he made two catches for 20 yards.

Asked how he would help freshmen prepare for the different atmosphere that is the Georgia game and the first SEC game of the season, Samuel said, “you’ve just got to stay level-headed and don’t let the atmosphere get the best of you.”