Count Kirby Smart is happy his Bulldogs will be playing their first night game of the year Saturday when Vanderbilt makes its semi-annual visit to Sanford Stadium.

Kickoff is set for 7:39.

“I’m excited for the players. I think they enjoy it. It’s cooler for longer. On our GPS systems we get higher speeds at night. Our fastest games last year were night games. They sustain them longer. They might be just as fast in an afternoon game, but not as long, not for as many yards,” Smart said. “But that’s true for the other team, too. The game’s faster. I think they enjoy it. I think the fan base enjoys it more, it’s more of a build up for it. I think it’s good when you get to have one. We haven’t had one. If they were all at night, I’d probably want one in the afternoon.”

Wide receiver Jayson Stanley is excited about the opportunity.

“I like the night part, not so much the sitting around all day, waiting for the game,” Stanley said. “But I do enjoy night games.”

The long wait before kickoff isn’t a concern for Smart, as it will actually give him an opportunity to do what he likes almost more than anything: recruit.

Georgia is expecting another talented list of prospective Bulldogs on Saturday, and the later kickoff will give Smart and his assistants more time to roll out the red carpet.

“I don’t know if I’d call it a challenge. We have to be organized. I don’t enjoy sitting around waiting. What I do enjoy is recruiting and visiting with prospects who come,” Smart said. “The night before is different. We go to a movie. It makes for a later night Friday night, because we sleep in Saturday. We all know that’s controlled by TV, and we accept that.”

Tae Crowder has come a long way from backup running back to now being an important cog at middle linebacker for the Bulldogs.

“You know he’s come a long way, from where he was last year to now—he’s had immense strides. But he had a lot of strides to make. He started out as a really good athlete, receiver, he’s got good ball skills. He had to get used to the contact at linebacker,” Smart said. “I still remember the first year he was here, he was over on scout team playing running back, and we started flipping him over, saying, "Hey, go play linebacker." The next thing you know, he started looking pretty good. He spent all of last year still learning, helping on special teams. You know, this year, he’s gotten better. He’s fast, he’s athletic, he’s what you want a linebacker to be. And he’s getting tougher. So, he’s been a really good asset for us.”

Stuck behind Nick Chubb and Sony Michel when he first signed with Georgia in 2015, Crowder was moved to linebacker in the middle of 2016, despite rushing for two touchdowns and playing most of the way at tailback for the victorious Black Team in the 2016 G-Day game.

Crowder is best remembered for his play in last year’s Rose Bowl, when he fielded a squib kick right before half to set up a long field goal by Rodrigo Blankenship as time expired.

So far this year, Crowder has been a regular part of the rotation at middle linebacker, and enters Saturday’s game with 10 tackles, along with an interception that he returned 43 yards against Mizzou.

“He plays what we call the money linebacker position, which follows the tight end usually. And that guy usually is flexed out in most offenses,” Smart said. “So, it’s not like he’s set to be open. He’s good at open. He’s good in the core too. He does a good job inside there. He’s a good space player.”

. . . Georgia enters Saturday’s game averaging 43.2 points per game. The 2012 team owns the school record at 37.8.

. . . Rodrigo Blankenship’s 37 touchbacks (out of 39 attempts) are the most in the country. For those wondering, the Georgia career record for touchbacks is 169, set by Kevin Butler. Blankenship has 125 career touchbacks.

. . . D’Andre Walker’s three forced fumbles are tied for third nationally.