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00:00 We're gonna begin with Oscar Dell.
00:02 Reminder when we're done, if you wanna go to just raise your hand for questions.
00:08 We'll get one of the remote mics to you and no live streaming, please.
00:12 So hands up for questions.
00:14 [BLANK_AUDIO]
00:19 >> Oscar, we had a chance to talk to Coach Hartley last week.
00:22 He just talked about how far you've come in your time in Georgia.
00:25 When you look over this last year,
00:27 where do you feel like you've grown the most as a tight end?
00:30 >> Yeah, definitely I've grown the most in the run blocking aspect part of the game.
00:34 Just working on those fundamentals that I didn't focus on as much in high school.
00:38 And my footwork and just really getting stronger in the weight room and
00:41 just being able to meet those bigger guys on the line.
00:43 [BLANK_AUDIO]
00:45 >> Yeah, how much of that development was weight gain?
00:48 I know in high school you were about 225.
00:50 What do you weigh now and where's that weight come from?
00:52 >> Yeah, I'm about 245 right now.
00:55 Then when we play, I can run that weight and I just as much as I can maintain.
00:59 Biggest thing is just getting stronger in the weight room and
01:01 just really just getting my legs stronger, my chest bigger, arms stronger,
01:05 everything and just working out tons, trusting the strength coaches and
01:10 strength staff and nutrition staff and just eating everything they told me to.
01:14 And just buying into the process and just really trying to put on as much weight as
01:18 possible and just get used to it, run around in it and playing fast and playing big.
01:22 [BLANK_AUDIO]
01:25 >> I mean this in kind of a light hearted way, but
01:27 do you feel like you're the next Brock Bowers?
01:29 And is that something that you aspire to be?
01:33 I know you've heard the comparisons for a long time.
01:36 >> Yeah, I mean, he's great.
01:37 I love playing with Brock and everything.
01:38 I mean, I'm just trying to be the next Oscar Delp.
01:41 I mean, obviously everyone wants to be like Brock Bowers and
01:43 make plays that he makes and they're crazy.
01:45 And it's great to have a guy like that in the room that can kind of mentor me and
01:48 also just be one of my buddies that I just hang out with.
01:51 But I mean, I'm just trying to focus on my game and just be the next Oscar Delp.
01:55 >> Yeah, Hartley mentioned that a lot of the tight ends, your recruits now,
02:00 like you and guys like Pierce,
02:01 who didn't play a lot of tight end in high school and were split out more.
02:04 Like how hard is it when you get here to take into account, hey,
02:08 I've gotta be a blocker now, I've gotta be more than a receiver.
02:10 Like was there a moment when you first got here,
02:12 like your role was a lot different than maybe it was in high school?
02:15 >> Yeah, I mean, just coming in from, basically come from an offensive high
02:19 school where I'm flexed out the whole time, going hand in the dirt a little.
02:22 But I mean, you're not going against guys that are recruited specifically to play
02:27 outside linebacker and play defensive end.
02:29 And that's just the biggest thing is just getting your hands on those big guys and
02:32 realizing just how much the fundamentals and the little things that Coach Hartley
02:36 teaches us, how much you need those to be successful in the run game.
02:39 And really just focus on every play and
02:41 just you can't let the fatigue kind of take away your technique and everything.
02:46 And that's the biggest thing I've been working on,
02:48 that you have to work on when you're coming to that next level.
02:50 >> Oscar, could you reflect on the Ohio State game when Darnell went out,
02:56 you were pressed into action and then you could follow up.
03:00 How much more prepared now in terms of the clear,
03:02 stronger, faster are you than you were in that game?
03:07 >> Yeah, I remember watching that game and seeing Darnell go down and
03:10 I didn't think he was gonna be out for long, but he happened to stay out.
03:14 And I knew it was just my turn to go in and the coaches don't care who's up next.
03:19 I mean, if you're on the depth chart next, you're gonna play.
03:21 And I was prepared and I was ready, I knew everything I had to do.
03:24 I was definitely a lot lighter,
03:26 felt like I was a little kid amongst men out there playing against some of those big
03:30 dudes, and I'd definitely be way more comfortable going in there now at the weight
03:33 I'm at, but just knowing everything I had to do and just not getting flustered by
03:38 the play calls or anything was just the biggest thing.
03:40 And that's one thing that Georgia does really well,
03:42 just make sure everyone's ready to play because they have that next man up mentality.
03:45 They don't care who's up next, if your number's called,
03:48 they expect you to go in and do what you're supposed to do.
03:50 >> Yeah, given that game happened at the end of the year,
03:55 how important do you think it was for you to get that experience,
03:57 especially going into an offseason where you're gonna have a chance to carve out
04:00 a bigger role?
04:01 >> Yeah, I mean, it was awesome getting in there and
04:03 getting to experience a game like that and just the atmosphere like that.
04:06 And to kind of look back on that and be like, okay, I did that,
04:10 I kind of got that big first game out of the way.
04:13 And just kind of got that off my shoulders.
04:15 So I'm really excited for this season and
04:17 to hopefully play in some more really big games.
04:19 And just really excited for this season.
04:21 >> Talking about Darnell and the blocking ability, what is it that you took away
04:26 from your year with him to learn technique wise and stuff as a blocker?
04:31 >> Yeah, I mean, he's one of those guys that can do everything a tackle does and
04:35 then run any route you ask him to.
04:38 And just looking at the stuff that he did with his footwork and his hands and
04:42 just the little things that coach Hartley teaches us.
04:44 And that Darnell was there for a long time to kind of understand and
04:47 learn and be able to teach me was big in my growth as a freshman last year.
04:52 >> Yeah, Oscar, I'm curious, not having had to block defensive end of high school,
04:58 was there ever like a welcome to the show kind of moment in college?
05:02 Was there ever a wow, this is a different type of field?
05:04 And is there any type of advice you give it to a guy like Pierce?
05:08 Like Jed said, who didn't really have much experience as a blocker coming in?
05:12 >> Yeah, I mean, some people know the story.
05:14 When I came here early,
05:17 when they were playing the Orange Bowl their first year of the National Championship.
05:20 And I didn't even know what a six tech was.
05:23 And that's basically just the head of DN.
05:25 And I was in there, my first day in pads, kinda wasn't even on the roster yet or
05:30 at school yet, but the freshmen come in and practice with the team for that camp.
05:34 And the first person I went against was Trayvon Walker and he literally just,
05:38 I didn't even know what I was doing or what a six tech was.
05:41 And it's just a drill where they basically put one on one,
05:44 just run at each other and best man wins.
05:46 And he basically just walked me back as far as he wanted.
05:48 And I was just, that's when I knew I had to do a lot of things to play in the SEC
05:53 and play for Georgia.
05:54 But yeah, I mean, I've talked to Pierce and guys like Lawson and
05:57 Pierce are coming there doing a great job.
05:59 And it's just that first camp is always a really tough one cuz you're just really
06:03 kind of, you got a lot thrown at you, a lot thrown at your plate and
06:05 just all these bigger dudes.
06:06 And you just gotta keep buying into the process and
06:08 just keep working on it every day.
06:09 And he's doing well and he's starting to pick it up and understand it.
06:12 And everyone's in those shoes at one point.
06:15 And it's just like you just gotta keep going and
06:17 buy into the process and just keep trusting the coaches.
06:19 >> Kirby said the other day after the scrimmage he talked to you guys about
06:25 this team hasn't done anything yet.
06:27 And how often do you hear that kind of message from the coaching staff that it's
06:30 a kind of a reset and you guys have to be on this?
06:33 >> Yeah, I mean, every day I think everyone on the team knows that except for
06:36 the two guys or the two rows kind of sitting in the front team room that have
06:39 been there for those past two national championships.
06:41 But I mean, no one's viewing as it like we're owed anything and
06:44 I think everyone's in here hungry.
06:45 We want to prove something.
06:46 A lot of guys in my class that haven't really got to play yet or
06:49 show what they can do are really excited to play this year and prove themselves.
06:52 And I mean, no one's thinking about last year or
06:56 in the future or just kind of focus on this moment now one moment at a time.
07:01 >> Yeah, how does being in a tight end room with Brock Bowers and
07:04 seeing him work, practice, do everything that he does,
07:07 how does that help make your own game better and make you a better tight end?
07:10 >> Yeah, it's huge.
07:11 I mean, having a guy like that in our room to kind of teach me and
07:16 the younger guys and everyone else in that room is just, it's huge.
07:19 It's almost like having another coach in there.
07:21 I mean, he's an awesome dude.
07:23 He's one of my best friends on the team and we're hanging out all the time.
07:25 But just the way he approaches practice and meetings and walkthroughs and
07:29 everything, it really puts everything in a different perspective and
07:32 I think it pushes everyone in the room a little bit more.
07:33 >> So I know Coach Bobo said that he's gonna try and
07:38 use a lot of the same lingo that you guys used last year, so it's not a lot of confusion.
07:41 But is there a difference in leadership style between him and
07:44 Coach Munkin and what you've seen from him since he stepped up into that role?
07:48 >> I think it's pretty similar.
07:50 I mean, he hasn't done anything to change the playbook where people are confused.
07:54 I mean, he's really just doing what every good offense scorer is doing.
07:57 I mean, he's game playing around our playmakers and our best players and
08:00 just what he thinks is gonna work.
08:02 And I think the offense is great so far.
08:04 >> Oscar, just what's the competition like day to day in that tight end room,
08:11 having Brock, having Pierce and Lawson just going through day to day,
08:16 knowing all the really good players in that room?
08:19 >> Yeah, I mean, it's awesome.
08:20 I mean, you get to every period, someone different makes a crazy play and
08:23 it kinda just pushes you to, you gotta go make that next one.
08:26 And it's fun.
08:27 I mean, a lot of competition in that room, just from, I mean,
08:31 we have no competition, so you can gain the most weight in the offseason.
08:34 So I mean, it's something new every day and those guys are awesome to compete with.
08:38 And we definitely each push each other every day, every practice.
08:42 >> What do you think when you hear the term three feet?
08:47 And is it a forbidden phrase within the football company?
08:52 >> I mean, I wasn't here for the first one, so
08:53 I mean, it doesn't really mean much to me.
08:56 I'm just hoping to get one where I can really kind of feel like I contributed and
08:59 I worked for it.
09:01 So I'm really just focused on this season.
09:02 I mean, no one really talks about that stuff.
09:05 We're just focused on this year and what we can do this year.
09:07 >> Obviously, it's the catches and things like that that make sports center stuff,
09:13 but the blocking ability as well.
09:15 Can you talk about what it feels like to make a big block like that?
09:18 >> Yeah, it's awesome.
09:20 It's something I really had to learn from high school.
09:23 I mean, now I really, I feel like I enjoy blocking.
09:26 And when a big plays call where I don't have to make a big block,
09:29 I get excited for it.
09:31 And it's almost like the same as making a big play.
09:33 I mean, Coach Hartley says sometimes he'd rather us just own the line of scrimmage
09:38 than be that tight end room that makes all these catches.
09:41 I mean, it's really, we look at it like a run first offense and
09:44 tight end room rather than all those big catches and pretty stuff.
09:49 >> Coach Bobo was talking about competition for 11 best.
09:54 And I guess that was maybe looking at maybe double tight end,
09:57 12 personnel versus 11.
09:58 Is there any actual competition?
10:01 Do they chart how you guys do a three wide versus two tight?
10:04 Or do you guys keep up?
10:05 Or how do you make your argument for that formation versus maybe a three wide?
10:11 >> Yeah, I mean, it's really just, we run a lot of 12 personnel,
10:14 a lot of 11 personnel.
10:14 It's just different every practice.
10:16 And it's really just whoever makes the most plays is giving us the best chance to
10:20 win, it's who's gonna be on that field.
10:21 So I mean, it really pushes the wide receiver group and the tight end group and
10:25 the running backs just to make plays.
10:27 And he's gonna put the 11 best out there and he doesn't care.
10:30 And it also changed, I think, game week for game plan and certain things.
10:34 But it's really just 11 best are gonna play.
10:37 So it just kind of pushes every unit to kind of play a little harder and
10:41 make bigger plays and kind of make a kind of name for your room and
10:46 why you should be out there on that field.
10:48 >> Let's take two more questions.
10:49 >> Oscar, two questions.
10:51 One, who won the weight gain competition in the offseason?
10:54 And two, what makes Todd Hartley such a good tight end scorer?
10:59 >> Yeah, for first one, I think I kind of won that.
11:02 I gained, I'm about 245 right now.
11:04 I was probably 230 at the end of last year.
11:07 And they didn't want Brock gain that much weight,
11:09 cuz they want him to still be pretty fast.
11:12 And sorry, what was that second question?
11:14 >> What makes Todd Hartley stand out as a tight end scorer?
11:17 >> Yeah, I mean, he's just got so much passion and
11:20 he really cares about each of us.
11:21 And you can tell that he wants all of us to just be great and
11:26 accomplish our goals that he wants for us.
11:27 And he cares about us so much.
11:30 He's always reaching out to our families and our parents and everything.
11:33 And he's just always involved in our lives almost every day we're with him.
11:38 You can just tell that he really wants us to be great.
11:40 He, like what he sees in you is what he's gonna try to get out of you.
11:44 >> Thank you. >> Thanks, Oscar.
11:45 >> Thank you.