Normally reserved, Reggie Carter was rather outspoken for the inside linebacker when he met with the media following practice No. 26 of fall camp. Apparently, he was ready for the 2017 campaign to finally get underway—ready to go out onto a gridiron and hit someone other than his own teammates.

“Oh, man, it’s amazing,” Carter replied when asked his feelings on the season opening in just a few days. “We’ve been grinding this past month, going against one another. It’s a relief we get to go against a great opponent this weekend.”

Carter is part of Georgia’s extraordinarily experienced interior defense—its defensive line and inside linebackers. Of the Bulldogs’ top-10 interior defenders in 2016 in terms of tackles made, all 10 return this year, all of whom, except one, started at least four games last season. For Carter, the returning experience, specifically at inside linebacker, has generated optimism.

“We (the inside linebackers) can rotate way more than we did last year,” Carter said. “[It’s a reason] I feel good about going in [this season].”

The top backup behind juniors and all-star candidates Roquan Smith and Natrez Patrick, Carter should feel good as a member of an inside linebacking trio integral to Georgia’s outcome for this season. He added that each one of the three brings something different to the table: Smith is exceptionally athletic—“a freak,” according to Carter. Patrick is tough—"hard headed.”

“And me?” Carter asked himself while beginning to laugh. “Old head.”

Carter, a fifth-year senior who will turn 23 years old in three weeks, is the wily veteran of the group. Notably, because of a medical redshirt he received in 2015 when he tallied two tackles in the one game he appeared, Carter should become this year just the eighth Georgia player of the modern era to record tackles in five different seasons. As a seasoned player, Carter offers a credible perspective on not only his group but the other portion of Georgia’s interior defense.

Consisting of only one senior, nose John Atkins, and five underclassmen, the Bulldogs’ nine-man defensive line rotation might be relatively young as a whole, yet it enters the 2017 campaign having a wealth of experience. Carter especially acknowledged the three second-year sophomores upfront—Julian Rochester, David Marshall, and Tyler Clark—and how much each had progressed even following what were admirable freshman seasons. In 2016, Rochester and Marshall were part-time starters, whereas Clark totaled the most tackles (21, including one and a half for loss) of those not receiving a start.

“Unbelievable, unbelievable,” Carter began regarding the sophomores’ progression. “Those guys have been amazing as they [have taken] a step from year one to year two. They are great linemen.”

And, a reason behind the youngsters becoming “great” in such a short period of time?

“They have a great leader in ‘John John,’” Carter said regarding Atkins, a fellow fifth-year senior. “He’s been here a long time.”

A long time for Atkins at Georgia, yes, but only as long as “Old Head.”