When Chance Gamble signed with Kennesaw State coming out of Fitzgerald High School it would have been a natural assumption by anyone who followed the Purple Hurricane to assume he would be playing offense in college.

Gamble’s senior year was one to remember as he was a Mr. Do Everything for a Fitzgerald team which went 14-1, losing to Calloway in the Class AA state championship game. Gamble was an all-state choice after posting 783 yards rushing, 587 receiving and 305 return yards with 23 touchdowns.

However, once he reached Kennesaw State, which ran the triple option under then coach and former Georgia Southern assistant Brian Bohannon, it became a question mark as to where he would fit in on offense.

“It’s a crazy story,” Gamble said of his experience at Kennesaw. “They didn’t know where they wanted me to play since they were still running the triple option.

“I was playing receiver but it was a ‘I don’t know if he’s really built for a triple option receiver’ so they tried me at defensive back,” Gamble said. “I was terrible at first. I couldn’t move backwards at all.

“That’s why I give Coach (Darius) Safford so much credit. He truthfully made me into the player I am today.”

Safford, a former Georgia Southern defensive back who had previously played at Lafayette before transferring, coached at Kennesaw State during the 2020-2023 seasons before coming home to GS in 2024 as a defensive backs coach. He has since added the title of assistant head coach.

Gamble chose to follow suit and what he is today is one of the best defensive backs in the Sun Belt Conference. He was a pre-season All-Sun Belt selection despite playing only four games last year due to a shoulder injury suffered against Southern Cal which eventually required surgery.

“Coach Safford has done a great job staying on me the whole time,” Gamble said. “He’s coached me the same from day one I walked on the campus at Kennesaw to year six here at Georgia Southern. I am so grateful for him.”

As to the pre-season accolades Gamble shrugs those off.

“Honestly, those things don’t mean a lot to me,” Gamble said. “I just want to be the best version of myself I can possibly be. Not only for me but for my coaches and to accomplish the goal of winning a championship.”

Gamble, incidentally still holds school records at Kennesaw for most interceptions in a game with three, most interception return yards in a game and for a season and longest interception return (89).

Those developed skills will be tested this Saturday when the Eagles (1-1) go to Jacksonville State (1-2) to take on a Gamecocks team which likes to air it out behind quarterback Caden Creel. Game time is 7 p.m. and the game will be televised on ESPN+.

Creel has passed for 677 yards and six touchdowns and has a trio of receivers in Jamill Williams, Deondre Johnson and Ronnel Johnson who will test the Eagles secondary.

Gamble missed last year’s 41-34 win over the Gamecocks and he is looking forward to facing them, not only because of the challenge, but simply for being back on the field.

“It’s a blessing to be able to come back to this team and this university,” Gamble said. “The community support I’ve gotten since coming back it’s like no other.

“I’m grateful to be at Georgia Southern. Everything is happy right now”