University of Georgia Athletics
Quick Chat: Jake Camarda
October 22, 2020 | Football, The Frierson Files
By John Frierson
Staff Writer
Georgia punter Jake Camarda is leading all of college football with an average of 50.7 yards per punt. But if given the choice, the junior from Norcross, Ga., would rather talk about golf than the fact that he's averaging nearly four more yards an attempt than he did last season. Actually, he may prefer talking about golf over everything.
During a Quick Chat after practice Wednesday, the subject of golf came up again and again. It's a sport that fascinates him, perhaps because like punting you can always get better at it, always improve your technique, regardless of how good you are. Camarda also talked during our Chat about his job as the Bulldogs' holder on field goals and PATs, Halloween, baseball and much more.
Here's some of what he had to say:
Frierson: What does it feel like to be averaging 50 yards a punt and leading the nation? Are you seeing the results that you expected to be seeing?
Camarda: You know, average and stuff is really, to be honest, not something that I'm super worried about; it's not something that I really pay attention to. I just know that when we're out there and we're with the rest of our team, when we're out there executing, that's what I'm looking for.
When it it comes to, is it something that I was expecting to do? Sure, I guess you could say that I am certainly trying to go out there and compete at a high level and do the absolute best I can. I think you have put a high expectation up there so it's something that you work towards.
Frierson: Is it weird that you have a job in football that in a perfect world you never see the field? If the offense is completely rolling, you don't get to go out there and punt.
Camarda: It's funny you say that. I actually sometimes would joke with guys on offense — it's kind of joking and kind of not joking at the same time — like I remember I told Brian Herrien last year after my first punt in the Vandy game; he was like, "Hey, man, that was a good punt." And I told him, "Hey, I appreciate it, you guys should never let me out here again."
I want our offense to do the best they can and I play a position where, of course I love my position and I really enjoy it, but the downside of my position is, yes, I do have to go out there when the offense may not execute. That's OK with me, and it's going to happen. Punting is a part of the game and offenses are never going to be perfect — no position is ever going to be perfect.
Frierson: I want to talk about being a holder for a minute because I think it's an underrated part of the game and it's underrated in terms of the level of difficulty. How do you go about becoming a good holder? And what kind of pressure do you feel?
Camarda: Early in my career, I wouldn't say that I was super nervous doing it. It was my first time doing it, my freshman year, in a game; I had practiced it a little bit in high school just because I knew one day I was probably going to become something I needed to learn how to do and be really good at.
The first game I may have been a little nervous, but it wasn't anything too crazy. I actually really do enjoy holding, it's something that I've always taken a liking to.
Frierson: What other sports did you play growing up?
Camarda: I played baseball and I always thought when I was younger that I'm going to play baseball, baseball's going to be my thing. I never really thought it was going to be football, but it did end up being football. That was kind of an interesting twist — that just goes to show that sometimes you might have a plan for yourself but that plan's not always going to wind up being exactly what you think it's going to be.
Frierson: What is your favorite Halloween candy?
Camarda: I'm really not a big candy guy, to be honest with you. Maybe Twizzlers, I like Twizzlers.
Frierson: Did you have a favorite Halloween costume?
Camarda: It's got to be, when I was younger I was Anakin Skywalker. That's got to be my favorite Halloween costume when I was a kid.
Frierson: Do you have a creative side? Is there anything creative you do or wish you could do?
Camarda: I can't say I have a creative side. I love to play golf, but that's not really creative.
Frierson: I will say, I do a lot of these Quick Chats with golfers and one of the things I love about golf is the way really good golfers can create shots. They see and do things that an average golfer like me can't even envision much less attempt.
Camarda: Absolutely.
Frierson: How would you rate yourself as a golfer?
Camarda: I'm average. I'm not going to tell you I'm a fantastic, great golfer. I need a lot of work. That's how I would describe it: game needs work.
Frierson: Is that something you did during the quarantine, when you had a lot of free time?
Camarda: Absolutely. I was still making sure I was socially distant and not around a lot of people, but I definitely played a lot.
Frierson: If you could play one course, what would it be?
Camarda: Augusta National. There's no doubt.
Frierson: Have you been there before?
Camarda: I have not been there, so that's definitely something that I want to make happen one day.
Frierson: If you could be great at anything for a day — and I make know what the answer to this is — just to experience what it's like, what would it be?
Camarda: I think you know where this one's going [laughs]. I know what the obvious answer is here, and I don't know if I can come up with another answer that would be different. The obvious answer is definitely golf.
I think it would be cool if I could be really great at hitting baseballs and playing at a major-league level. Hitting home runs would be really cool, too.
Frierson: Even to be able to do what Davis Thompson does for one day would be incredible.
Camarda: If I could spend a day hitting golf balls the way they hit golf balls, consistently, it would change my life. It would be awesome.
Frierson: I just want it to make that sound when it goes through the air after impact.
Camarda: I know. I just want to know what the feel is. Sometimes when I hit my irons it feels a little clunky or harder or not great. I just want to know what it feels like to just consistently hit your irons and you just don't really feel anything off the face of the club.
Frierson: You guys are off Saturday, so will you be hitting the course instead?
Camarda: Probably not on Saturday, but I might make my way out there later Sunday afternoon. Saturday's going to be a day of relaxation and maybe flick on the TV and watch a little bit of college football.
(This Q&A was lightly edited for length and clarity.)
Staff Writer
Georgia punter Jake Camarda is leading all of college football with an average of 50.7 yards per punt. But if given the choice, the junior from Norcross, Ga., would rather talk about golf than the fact that he's averaging nearly four more yards an attempt than he did last season. Actually, he may prefer talking about golf over everything.
During a Quick Chat after practice Wednesday, the subject of golf came up again and again. It's a sport that fascinates him, perhaps because like punting you can always get better at it, always improve your technique, regardless of how good you are. Camarda also talked during our Chat about his job as the Bulldogs' holder on field goals and PATs, Halloween, baseball and much more.
Here's some of what he had to say:
Frierson: What does it feel like to be averaging 50 yards a punt and leading the nation? Are you seeing the results that you expected to be seeing?
Camarda: You know, average and stuff is really, to be honest, not something that I'm super worried about; it's not something that I really pay attention to. I just know that when we're out there and we're with the rest of our team, when we're out there executing, that's what I'm looking for.
When it it comes to, is it something that I was expecting to do? Sure, I guess you could say that I am certainly trying to go out there and compete at a high level and do the absolute best I can. I think you have put a high expectation up there so it's something that you work towards.
Frierson: Is it weird that you have a job in football that in a perfect world you never see the field? If the offense is completely rolling, you don't get to go out there and punt.
Camarda: It's funny you say that. I actually sometimes would joke with guys on offense — it's kind of joking and kind of not joking at the same time — like I remember I told Brian Herrien last year after my first punt in the Vandy game; he was like, "Hey, man, that was a good punt." And I told him, "Hey, I appreciate it, you guys should never let me out here again."
I want our offense to do the best they can and I play a position where, of course I love my position and I really enjoy it, but the downside of my position is, yes, I do have to go out there when the offense may not execute. That's OK with me, and it's going to happen. Punting is a part of the game and offenses are never going to be perfect — no position is ever going to be perfect.
Frierson: I want to talk about being a holder for a minute because I think it's an underrated part of the game and it's underrated in terms of the level of difficulty. How do you go about becoming a good holder? And what kind of pressure do you feel?
Camarda: Early in my career, I wouldn't say that I was super nervous doing it. It was my first time doing it, my freshman year, in a game; I had practiced it a little bit in high school just because I knew one day I was probably going to become something I needed to learn how to do and be really good at.
The first game I may have been a little nervous, but it wasn't anything too crazy. I actually really do enjoy holding, it's something that I've always taken a liking to.
Frierson: What other sports did you play growing up?
Camarda: I played baseball and I always thought when I was younger that I'm going to play baseball, baseball's going to be my thing. I never really thought it was going to be football, but it did end up being football. That was kind of an interesting twist — that just goes to show that sometimes you might have a plan for yourself but that plan's not always going to wind up being exactly what you think it's going to be.
Frierson: What is your favorite Halloween candy?
Camarda: I'm really not a big candy guy, to be honest with you. Maybe Twizzlers, I like Twizzlers.
Frierson: Did you have a favorite Halloween costume?
Camarda: It's got to be, when I was younger I was Anakin Skywalker. That's got to be my favorite Halloween costume when I was a kid.
Frierson: Do you have a creative side? Is there anything creative you do or wish you could do?
Camarda: I can't say I have a creative side. I love to play golf, but that's not really creative.
Frierson: I will say, I do a lot of these Quick Chats with golfers and one of the things I love about golf is the way really good golfers can create shots. They see and do things that an average golfer like me can't even envision much less attempt.
Camarda: Absolutely.
Frierson: How would you rate yourself as a golfer?
Camarda: I'm average. I'm not going to tell you I'm a fantastic, great golfer. I need a lot of work. That's how I would describe it: game needs work.
Frierson: Is that something you did during the quarantine, when you had a lot of free time?
Camarda: Absolutely. I was still making sure I was socially distant and not around a lot of people, but I definitely played a lot.
Frierson: If you could play one course, what would it be?
Camarda: Augusta National. There's no doubt.
Frierson: Have you been there before?
Camarda: I have not been there, so that's definitely something that I want to make happen one day.
Frierson: If you could be great at anything for a day — and I make know what the answer to this is — just to experience what it's like, what would it be?
Camarda: I think you know where this one's going [laughs]. I know what the obvious answer is here, and I don't know if I can come up with another answer that would be different. The obvious answer is definitely golf.
I think it would be cool if I could be really great at hitting baseballs and playing at a major-league level. Hitting home runs would be really cool, too.
Frierson: Even to be able to do what Davis Thompson does for one day would be incredible.
Camarda: If I could spend a day hitting golf balls the way they hit golf balls, consistently, it would change my life. It would be awesome.
Frierson: I just want it to make that sound when it goes through the air after impact.
Camarda: I know. I just want to know what the feel is. Sometimes when I hit my irons it feels a little clunky or harder or not great. I just want to know what it feels like to just consistently hit your irons and you just don't really feel anything off the face of the club.
Frierson: You guys are off Saturday, so will you be hitting the course instead?
Camarda: Probably not on Saturday, but I might make my way out there later Sunday afternoon. Saturday's going to be a day of relaxation and maybe flick on the TV and watch a little bit of college football.
(This Q&A was lightly edited for length and clarity.)
Assistant Sports Communications Director John Frierson is the staff writer for the UGA Athletic Association and curator of the ITA Men's Tennis Hall of Fame. You can find his work at: Frierson Files. He's also on Twitter: @FriersonFiles and @ITAHallofFame.
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