Leaders and captains ready to be heard

ATHENS — Kirby Smart has made Georgia a No. 1-ranked program with his leadership, but the head coach stresses it’s important for that to trickle down.

“Championship teams are player-driven,” Smart said this week in the days leading up to today’s game with Vanderbilt (3:30 p.m. SEC Network). “Obviously you have the coaches, but a player-led team is a team the coaches and players want, so having those leaders on and off the pitch is crucial for a Championship team as well.”

Georgia selected Brock Bowers, Zion Logue, Warren McClendon and Jack Podlesny as game captains for the Commodores.

But, Smart said on his coaches’ show, there will be plenty of other voices heard.

“Vocal leaders on the team? I would go for Nolan (Smith), Kenny (McIntosh), Sedrick Van Pran and Chris Smith,” Smart said, answering a question from the audience.

“It comes down to your guys who have played the longest and been involved the longest,” he said. “It helps to gain trust and credibility

“But that doesn’t limit us to those guys.”

Smart said Stetson Bennett, who has never been a game captain, is also a leader.

“Stetson is another one, he’s done a tremendous job keeping the confidence up by the way he’s been playing,” Smart said. “Guys trust him and know he’s very smart, and he puts that into practice.”

Georgia will miss a few key players against Vanderbilt.

Other Bulldogs with bumps and bruises who may be able to play may be held back for an additional week of healing.

Georgia has a bye next week before its next game against Florida on Nov. 5 in Jacksonville.

Stetson Bennett (shoulder), likely

Trezman Marshall (knee), likely

Ladd McConkey (foot), likely

Arik Gilbert (staff), questionable

Adonai Mitchell (anke/thumb), questionable

Smael Mondon (ankle), questionable

Kendall Milton (groin), questionable

Chaz Chambliss (hamstring), questionable

Earnest Greene (undisclosed) questionable

CJ Washington (neck), out

Jalen Carter (knee), out

Andrew Paul (knee), out