SOUTHEASTERN CONFERENCE FOOTBALL CHAMPIONSHIP GAME: GEORGIA VS ALABAMA

December 1, 2025

Raylen Wilson

Mercedes-Benz Stadium

Georgia Bulldogs

Press Conference

THE MODERATOR: We have Raylen Wilson from Georgia. We'll start with questions.

Q. How has your relationship with Coach Schumann evolved this year?

RAYLEN WILSON: I feel like he hasn't treated us any different other than when we came in. Like, we were just freshmen, new guys on the campus. Now we're just looked at as savvy vets. There's not that much of a difference.

Q. For all the winning you guys have done, you've never beaten Alabama in your career. How much is this team aware of that? How much does that bother this team?

RAYLEN WILSON: Like, the team is pretty aware. We haven't been on the (indiscernible) when it comes to new games. We just focus on the next game. 'Bama is who we got next.

Q. Looking back to the game in September against Alabama, what do you feel like there's something you learned about going up against this Alabama team that you think can help?

RAYLEN WILSON: I feel like we learned about just how their offense likes to attack us. They have a pretty mobile quarterback. He's a good thrower. I mean, they're a pretty balanced offense.

Q. What would you say stands out how about Ty Simpson?

RAYLEN WILSON: I feel like he's more athletic than people give him credit for.

Q. Could you detail in your opinion what ways the Georgia defense has evolved or grown since the September matchup?

RAYLEN WILSON: I feel like we've taken on the challenge of getting better every week, no matter the outcome of every game. It's just going week by week, getting better at what we do. Just the fundamentals of the game. I feel like we've taken that challenge on head first and we've been getting better.

Q. For you guys in the linebacker position, how much has the disruption of the defensive line in front of you, how much easier does that make your jobs? Curious on the growth of that unit from a havoc standpoint between the first Alabama game and now.

RAYLEN WILSON: Yeah, I feel like they've grown tremendously just game in, game out. It's really just executing the plan. We talk about it throughout the week. It's just about going into the game Saturday and executing.

I feel like they've been doing better at that.

Q. With CJ going down at points in the season, how much growth did you see in your young teammates, and how much has that experience they gained helped prepare them for a big game like this?

RAYLEN WILSON: I feel like it helps a lot, especially with their confidence. Just going out there and just playing football like we have been our whole life, not making a big deal out of it. Just being young, going out there and making plays.

Q. I know you grew up in SEC country. What does the SEC Championship game mean to you? How much did you watch it growing up? When you think about this matchup, what does this matchup mean to you personally?

RAYLEN WILSON: It really just opens my eyes, like, just because, I mean, look, when I was a little kid, you would dream of stuff like that, playing in games like this. For it to actually be happening, it's kind of crazy, you know?

Q. You've played in these games before. How much does having played them before, having that experience, how much does that matter? How do you see that translate when you step out there and get into the game?

RAYLEN WILSON: I feel like it translates, it just shows confidence basically. Like, the more you play in games like this, the more confidence you have I feel like going into them. I feel like it's less nerves. Just like you're prepared.

Q. Curious about your relationship with CJ is, how you've seen him grow, how maybe he's helped you along as a linebacker.

RAYLEN WILSON: Yeah, me and CJ, we done been here three years together. We learn a lot from each other just day in, day out at practice and the meetings. I mean, he's my brother. That's how we go about it every day.

Q. To see him come back from that surgery last week, want to play, reiterate what that meant to you to see him back on the field?

RAYLEN WILSON: Yeah, I knew what type of guy CJ was when I met him. I knew that injury wasn't going to hold him back for long. I was just was happy for him that he could be out there with us.

THE MODERATOR: That's it for today. Thank you.

RAYLEN WILSON: Appreciate y'all.