Kirby Smart always appreciates when a player in the starting lineup also makes consistent plays on special teams. Against South Carolina on Saturday, Adam Anderson fit that mold perfectly, including a big play where he fought through a blocker to make a tackle.

“Adam’s done a tremendous job on special teams, I mean he’s perfect for special teams, right,” Smart said. “6-4, 230, 235, runs really fast. Like, what more could you want than a fast, big guy on special teams, and he’s always taken a lot of pride in that. Adam has reasserted himself on this team as someone who cares. He used to miss academics, now he doesn’t miss academics. He used to miss treatment, he doesn’t miss treatment.”

Smart said Anderson is an example of the growth of a player, from Year 1 not having a clue, to Year 2 still trying to figure it out, to Year 3, “this is how you’re supposed to do it.”

“He’s in that year where it’s like, ‘I understand what I’m supposed to do, and I understand why it’s important to do it that way,'” Smart said. “He’s done that on special teams and defense, and he doesn’t play so many snaps on defense that he can’t play special teams. That’s part of the value of playing players on offense and defense not every snap is you get the value back on special teams.”

Smart was also asked about Anderson and Nolan Smith becoming leaders from the outside linebacker spot.

“Experience, and they both have that,” Smart said. “They both paid the price of experience in years past and they’ve got confidence and experience now. …. They both are reaping the benefits of having been in the program.”