The Georgia Bulldogs are headed into their fifth game of the season with another conference opponent who does not look like they will give the Dawgs a great fight in the Vanderbilt Commodores.

Despite the expectation that the Oklahoma Sooners would come into Athens and bring Georgia a heavyweight battle, it was once again a blowout in favor of the Bulldogs, and one of the reasons for that was a program veteran. With lead bell cow Nate Frazier not able to suit up and go, Kirby Smart deferred to a committee that included program veteran Dwight Phillips Jr., and Phillips responded with a career day that included a 54-yard touchdown.

While discussing Phillips during his press conference this week, it became clear that Smart is a huge fan of the kid and what he has meant to the program over the years.

"It says something about his character," Smart said about the way the veteran was able to play after having to wait years for his turn. "He’s had some opportunities. He’s had some plays; last year, he flashed and had some really good plays. He’s gotten some opportunities when guys have been dinged up, he’s one of the consistent guys in the room in terms of work ethic. He has an elite trait, which is speed. He works really hard at special teams. I was more proud of the tackle than even then run because he has worked really hard on that."

Smart has always had a soft spot for guys who embrace a special teams heavy role, and that has certainly been Phillips over the course of his career. With just 56 rushing attempts in his career, it has certainly not been a glory-filled rushing heavy career for him at Georgia.

Like all of Smart's favorite players though, Phillips does his job to help the team win without a care in the world about the credit that comes along with it. He is a guy that is the physical embodiment of everything this program tries to teach over and over again.

Phillips getting his shot and taking advantage with a career day that saw 84 yards on the ground and his touchdown is the kind of thing Smart coaches for, and clearly it did not go unnoticed in the locker room when the veteran shined.

As the season goes on, Frazier and Chauncey Bowens will likely continue to get the bulk of the work on offense, but in Phillips, Georgia knows it has another guy it can trust to give them quality production when he gets his chance to play.

Depth is critical, and at the running back position, that is exactly what Phillips provides, and he does it without expecting anything in return.