Chance Gamble took a risk on his football career coming out of high school.
The Georgia Southern cornerback was a standout offensive player for Fitzgerald High School in Georgia during his prep days.
His offensive production led to many offers to play at the next level. While most of those offers were to play offense, there was one program that wanted him to play defensive back — Kennesaw State. He decided that was the path to take.
“Every other offer I had was for receiver except Kennesaw State,” said Gamble, who calls Fitzgerald home. “I could have played for other schools and played offense, but I chose Kennesaw because I wanted to play defense.”
Gamble played some defense in high school, but the transition to playing strictly cornerback at the college ranks came with some hiccups.
“(The transition) was pretty tough, I’m not gonna lie,” he told HERO Sports. “It’s a lot different moving backwards than it is forwards. The first couple of months were rough. I looked like a baby deer moving around. I couldn’t quite find my footing at times, but the more repetitions, the better it got.”
Georgia Southern defensive backs coach Darius Safford is credited by Gamble for his development at corner. Safford coached the secondary at KSU from 2019-23 and also played a major role in Gamble transferring to Georgia Southern. Gamble spent three seasons with the Owls and redshirted in 2023.
When Gamble found out Safford was taking a job with the Eagles, he knew that’s where he needed to be. Being from southern Georgia, Gamble always had an interest in suiting up for the Eagles, and because of the relationship they built, he wanted to follow Safford.
It was just an added bonus that Statesboro was the destination.
“It was pretty easy to follow Coach Safford,” Gamble said. “He told me he was going to Georgia Southern and I knew I had to do this. He’s a phenomenal coach. … He’s molded me into the player I am now. He’s a great guy, easy to relate to … and I’m super grateful and thankful for that guy.”
Now in his second season with the program, the 6-foot-2, 180-pound redshirt senior is looking to build on a successful 2024 campaign.
Despite missing three games after having surgery on a broken left ring finger, Gamble earned second-team All-Sun Belt honors. He finished the season with 48 total tackles, eight pass breakups, and three interceptions. One of those interceptions came against Coastal Carolina when he was still wearing a club on his left hand, which he wore for the final five games of the season. He realized during that stretch not to take being on the field for granted.
“The biggest thing I learned was staying down and being humble when things don’t go your way. I had surgery when I started to peak a little bit, and then it was like hitting the restart button,” he said. “The biggest thing is to sit back and look at it now. I just think God did that for a reason. He put me through that lesson for a reason.”
Nonetheless, Gamble was still productive despite being somewhat limited. Something he wasn’t able to accomplish last season, though, was snagging an interception during a home game.
Getting a pick in front of the home crowd is at the top of his bucket list going into the season.
“There’s nothing that compares to (intercepting a pass). You can’t beat that feeling right there,” he said. “I can’t wait to catch one in Paulson (Stadium) and go to the student section.”
Georgia Southern’s defense is entering Year 3 under defensive coordinator Brandon Bailey and is returning a lot of production. This includes four starters from the secondary, who Gamble referred to as the “box boys” and emphasized would have a big year. The nickname was chosen because they lock up opposing wideouts and “put them in a box.”
Gamble said Georgia Southern’s defense has high expectations for itself this season. With plenty of offensive firepower throughout the rest of the league, the defense will have to meet those expectations and be consistent if the Eagles hope to capture their first Sun Belt title since 2014.
He believes the familiarity and continuity throughout the defense will give the Eagles a chance to do that.
“With this year’s defense, you’re going to see us play fast and you’re going to see us get to the ball,” Gamble said. “We had a lot of new faces last year. Now, with a lot of guys coming back, we’re ready. Expect us to fly to the ball, be disruptive, and create a lot of turnovers.”