Georgia quarterback Stetson Bennett IV played a better game than Auburn’s Bo Nix, but that shouldn’t be a surprise.
For those looking for a Bo Nix apologist, you’ve come to the wrong place. Go visit Kirk Herbstreit for that. Against Auburn, Stetson Bennett IV not only showed why he should be Georgia’s starting quarterback, but he showed that he’s a better one than Bo Nix.
I said what I said.
Stetson Bennett IV — the former Georgia walk-on who opted to spend a year in the JUCO ranks and who was only given three stars without much chance of succeeding due to his slightness of build — is a better quarterback than Heisman-hyped Bo Nix.
How can this be? It’s a simple formula and one that too many people in life tend to overlook. Talent and success obtained by working your ass off to prove everyone wrong will always outshine talent and success that come “naturally” and seem preordained.
In short, being dubbed “the next big thing” doesn’t mean squat. When it’s all but handed to you, your appreciation is lost.
Nix may have more raw talent than Bennett. He’s a little bigger, probably has a stronger arm, and has a flashier style of play. Nix is good for the highlight reel from time-to-time. Bennett will be good for solid wins.
Georgia fans will take the wins over the flash.
Stetson Bennett IV is living the dream.
Starting in his first game for Georgia was part of a lifelong dream for Stetson Bennett, and he was willing to do whatever it took to get there. He accepted not being offered a scholarship at first. He was willing to take the redshirt and play on the Georgia scout team for a season. He chose to play at Jones College for a season to hone his craft and become a better player.
Bennett did everything right and never gave up. He fought. He scrapped. He learned behind Jake Fromm and didn’t even talk “transfer portal” when he looked to be fifth on the depth chart during the offseason leading up to the 2020 campaign.
And now, Stetson Bennett IV just plucked his own little piece of history, leading Georgia to their fourth straight win over Auburn.
Meanwhile, Bo Nix is trying once again to make sense of a disheartening Auburn loss in which he wasn’t able to overcome a defense who was reading him like a Dick and Jane book.
The talent surrounding these two opposing quarterbacks wasn’t very different. The outcome couldn’t have been any different. Every time Auburn blitzed Bennett, he calmly moved away from the oncoming predators, kept his eyes on his receivers, and made good decisions.
Bennett looked cool, even when things didn’t go as they should. Nix looked rattled and unsure of himself all night.
Nix panicked, ducked out of the pocket when it wasn’t even needed, and made poor choices with the ball time and time again, looking more like a shortstop shuffling the ball to his second baseman rather than a quarterback leading a top ten football team.
3-Star walk-on vs 5-Star savior, and the guy who was only ever going to be a career backup looked more Heisman-esque than the anointed one.
For the time being, it seems Georgia’s offense is in the right hands. Stetson for Heisman? Why not.