ATHENS, Ga. -- Georgia safety Bacarri Rambo never met Braylin Adriel Rambo.

Bacarri Rambo, a junior from Donalsonville, Ga., said he often wonders what Braylin would have looked like, how he would have acted and how it would have felt to watch him grow up.

"I have some moments where I just sit and cry," Rambo said. "I have some moments where I sit and smile because I know he's in a better place."

Braylin would have been Rambo's first son. Braylin was to be born Oct. 1, the same day the Bulldogs were scheduled to play Mississippi State at Sanford Stadium. But while sitting in class Sept. 21, Rambo received a text message from his girlfriend's roommate. Something was terribly wrong.

Bacarri Rambo says he thinks about his late son "all the time." Josh D. Weiss/US Presswire

LaTori Williams, his longtime girlfriend, who had started dating Rambo when they attended neighboring high schools in South Georgia, had been rushed to the hospital in Statesboro, Ga., where she attends Georgia Southern. Tragically, Braylin had been delivered stillborn. Doctors said the baby died after he stopped receiving oxygen.

Braylin Rambo died 10 days before his scheduled delivery date.

"That was the hard part for him," said Danny Rambo, the player's father. "It wasn't long before her due date. He didn't understand how an infant could die in the womb. He's young and thinks he's going to live until he's 100 years old. It's not that way. We don't have any control over life and death."

As a tribute to his son, Bacarri Rambo decided to play three days after Braylin's death. Rambo had two interceptions in the Bulldogs' 27-13 victory over Ole Miss. He dedicated the rest of the season to his son, too.

"I have my ups and have my downs," Rambo said. "I think about him all the time."

Before No. 14 Georgia plays No. 1 LSU in Saturday's SEC championship game in Atlanta's Georgia Dome, Rambo will write "21" on the tape on each of his cleats. The number has emotional significance because doctors told Rambo and Williams their baby would be a boy on the 21st day of the month and Braylin died Sept. 21.

"It's a reminder to him that you've got to enjoy life to the fullest," Danny Rambo said. "It doesn't matter if you're old or young; life can end. He prays before every game and after each game. I told him his son is looking down on him. I told him to always do his best because his son is in heaven cheering for him."

Bacarri Rambo has been a big reason for Georgia's success this season. After losing their first two contests of the season, the Bulldogs won 10 games in a row to win the SEC East. Georgia ranks No. 4 nationally in pass-efficiency defense (98.7 rating), No. 5 in total defense (217 yards per game), No. 6 in rushing defense (94.7 yards) and No. 10 in scoring defense (17.7 points).

Rambo is tied for second among Football Bowl Subdivision players with seven interceptions and is fifth on the team with 47 tackles.