ATHENS — Kirby Smart hinted on Wednesday it bears watching which defensive player on the field has the green dot indicating a radio-helmet in Saturday’s game -- it might not be who you think.

Conventional wisdom might lead some to believe it would be the signal caller on defense, just as the quarterbacks on offense wear the radio helmet to assist with calls.

Smart, a former All-SEC safety and decorated defensive coach, said having a different defensive player -- not the one calling the play — wearing the one designated radio in helmet on defense also has merit.

“One guy can’t communicate to the other 10 players on defense, not as well as you can from a sideline standpoint,” said Smart, who along with his assistants, can be seen signaling in defensive plays and adjustments.

“So it might (instead) give one guy more information, (and) I think some people might use that as a strategy for players that might be new … so you can communicate with them a little longer and talk to them and settled them down and hear a voice.”

Smart noted that the defensive signal caller — at UGA, typically the middle linebacker — doesn’t always need that level of assistance.

Sophomore CJ Allen played in 14 games last season and has five starts under his belt, and he might very well see some snaps wearing a helmet with a green dot indicating a radio in helmet.

But Smart suggested if that’s the case, it won’t necessarily be to aid in his ability communicate calls to other players.

“The signal callers probably still going to have to get the signal (from the sideline),” Smart said, “Unless you huddle on defense, that piece (radio in helmet) of equipment does not help you tremendously.”

Communication via radio helmet will be shut off with 15 seconds remaining on the play clock or when the ball is snapped, whichever comes first.

Georgia looks to have a first-time starter at the “Star” defensive back position, Joenel Aguero, who could be a candidate for the radio helmet based, on Smart’s comments.

It’s worth noting Smart was part of the NCAA rules committee when the addition of the radio in helmet was discussed, so there is much thought behind his philosophy.

Former Notre Dame quarterback Brady Quinn has suggested that offenses, and their passing games in particular, figure to benefit greatly from the added communication the radio helmet figures to provide.

“Hopefully, you’ll see quarterbacks given more,” said Quinn, who works for CBS HQ.

“I think that’s the tough part as a former quarterback, when you’re running an NFL offense in college, you can have responsibility and control to prepare you for the next level with certain run checks and pass checks and everything else. Hopefully, some of the coaches will put the onus on these quarterbacks, especially as guys have played four or five, or in some cases now, six years.”

There will be other new players in the game for Georgia who might also benefit from that added communication, but there is only one radio helmet allowed on the field on offense and defense at a time.

Teams will also be allocated 18 tablets to view in-game video that can be used on the sideline, coaching booth and in locker rooms.