Making 10 starts last year as a junior, Prince Miller is looking to leave his mark on the UGA football program.  Coming in at sixth in the Southeastern Conference for total defense last year, Miller feels that they have something to prove.  This is the second installment of a series of “Catching up” with current Bulldogs.

Q: What have been some areas in your game that you have been working to improve this summer?

Miller: We’ve all been working really hard this offseason.  It has been the toughest summer since I have been here.  Everyone is focused and has the same goals and we are working hard to attain those goals.

Q: Is any certain teammate stepping up in a leadership role?  Or is it more of a team-wide responsibility?

Miller: Obviously Joe Cox is our leader, but on the offensive side you also have Shaun Chapas who has really stepped up.  Then on defense, you have Rennie Curran and Akeem Dent that have stepped up into leadership roles.

Q: Yourself and Bryan Evans are the only returning seniors in the defensive secondary.  What are you seeing out of the second-year guys (Brandon Boykin, Sanders Commings, Bacarri Rambo, Makiri Pugh etc.)?

Miller: Well, Reshad (Jones) has been here for a while; he might as well be a senior.  But those younger guys are coming along really well and doing a good job.  We expect those guys to play and do a good job for us.

Q: What are your impressions of Branden Smith and Jordan Love?

Miller: Both are very skilled but just need some work and to get fully into the system.  Branden and Jordan are both great athletes and are doing a great job right now.

Q: Last summer there was the pressure of being ranked preseason No. 1.  This year’s team comes in slightly lower ranked.  What kind of difference does it make not having that added pressure?

Miller: Having the sense of being the underdog is pushing guys to work that much harder.  People are saying that we are flying under the radar; we want to take that and run with it.  It just makes us want to push each other that much harder.

Q: So do you think the underdog role is the main reason everyone is working harder?

Miller:  That is a reason, but I think guys are starting to realize that a 10-win season isn’t good enough anymore.  We all want to win SEC and national championships.

Q: How has going up against a top-notch wide receiver like A.J. Green in practice helped you?

Miller: It brings the best out of you every time you step on the field.  You have to be prepared and if you’re not, he is going to make you look like a fool.  It definitely helps your confidence when you know you go up against one of the best in the country everyday.

Q: What are your thoughts on traveling to Stillwater, Okla., to play a preseason

top-10 Oklahoma State team in the season opener?

Miller: We will definitely be prepared for a dogfight.  Obviously they are a good team and will be ranked pretty high.  They have at least three great players on the offensive side of the ball.  We will be prepared and will give it our best shot.

Q: What do you feel will be some of the strong points on this team?

Miller: That’s exactly it; it’s a team.  We don’t have that star factor this year.  We know it is going to take a full team effort every game to go out there and get the job done.

Q: Returning everyone from last year’s defense, and getting Jeff Owens back from injury, Georgia has a lot of experience. What can everyone expect from the defense this year?

Miller: The defense is getting back to that Georgia style of defense, especially with getting Jeff (Owens) back.  Having guys like Jeff, Geno Atkins and Kade Weston up the middle is great for us, especially our defensive ends.  Getting everyone back is huge, we need to focus on getting pressure on the quarterback.

Q: Many fans are wondering about the defensive end situation.  What are you seeing out of the guys at that position?

Miller:  There is a lot of potential.  They have gotten more experience and are healthier now than they have been in a while.

Q: Being one of the punt returners last season, you provided the team and fans with excitement, knowing that you could take it all the way at any moment.  What do you think makes one a successful punt returner? 

Miller:  Well, Coach Jon Fabris always says you got to have ice water in your veins.  You take the risk of taking one the distance or getting your head taken off because you were so risky and just wanted to make a play.

Q: Is there anything in closing that you would like to say to the Bulldog Nation?

Miller: We were obviously disappointed with the way the season went last year.  We are working hard to correct those things and we are looking forward to a great season.