Georgia football has a unique player in Stetson Bennett that isn’t always seen in college athletes anymore. His love for the University of Georgia, combined with his undeniable work ethic, has earned him the starting quarterback job.
Regardless of whether anyone thinks he is the best quarterback for the job, Bennett proves why he is still getting the nod each week.
No one could have predicted that JT Daniels would go down with an injury, much less that Georgia would be 10-0 with him hurt — yet here they are.
Bennett has his moments where he tries to make something work that won’t ever work, and times where his passing isn’t nearly as good, but he has an x-factor that makes him a proven winner.
Georgia football can and will win a national title with Stetson Bennett under center.
Daniels isn’t mad about it either. Instead, he understands what is going on and is helping Bennett from the sideline.
This duo seems to have a great relationship, and they’re rooting for each other to succeed. There is no jealousness coming from Daniels because he knows he could get his number called if the Dawgs need him. Plus, he has another year of eligibility while this season is Bennett’s last. Daniels is there for Bennett and vice versa.
Daniels has more physical talent, but he can use that to help Bennett improve as a quarterback. Both quarterbacks led Georgia to this 10-0 ranking, but it’s been Bennett who stepped up and led the way while Daniels got his injury under control.
That selflessness from Daniels is why Georgia is in a perfect spot with its quarterbacks. They have a room full of talented guys, and the most experienced ones are showing the youngsters sometimes things don’t go your way, but you don’t run from it — you work through it and compete.
Bennett receives praise from head coach Kirby Smart, his teammates, and media analysts who have met him. Something about Bennett makes him who he is, and Georgia is lucky to have him.
Plus, his ability to make plays with his legs isn’t something Daniels can do as well as Bennett. He showed that against Tennessee, his legs could be a difference-maker.
Stetson Bennett scrambles and scored a big TD. pic.twitter.com/9HFVmDjgiW
— Matt DeBary (@MattDeBary) November 13, 2021
Bennett has 35 carries for 233 yards and one score. He averages 6.7 yards a touch, which means he makes things happen when he decides to run.
On the season, Bennett has gone 97-of-149 for 1,625 yards, 15 touchdowns, and four interceptions. He has a 65.10% completion rate and averages 180.56 yards a game.
While he has the 12th best conference passing yards stats, Bennett has the highest quarterback rating at 184.56.
Plus, he leads the conference at 10.91 yards a pass. Bennett also leads the league in the fewest times sacked.
He has been a key piece to Georgia’s offensive strategy this season, and it is working. Who cares if he was a former walk-on that barely got any recruiting notice — those teams look silly now.
Georgia knows what kind of player he is, and despite some of the fans still not jumping on the Bennett train, Smart and offensive coordinator Todd Monken knows who will give Georgia the best chance to win.
Bennett gives the Dawgs the best chance to win until he doesn’t. He doesn’t have to be perfect to be the starting quarterback. Bennett needs to be effective. Through the nine games he played in, he has been plenty effective and gave Georgia an edge.
He has everything it takes to be a national title winner, but people don’t want to consider him because he doesn’t look like Trevor Lawrence, Tua Tagovailoa, Bryce Young, or even Daniels.
Who cares how tall he is or how many interceptions he threw last season — it’s 2021. He is undefeated on the year as a starter and has been explosive.
There is no reason not to like Bennett because he loves Georgia more than most of the fans. He sacrifices his body every single week to help the team win, and that determination is why he is the starting quarterback.
Smart and Monken could care less about his rankings or what he did last year. Bennett has shown them he is trustworthy with this offense and can be a playmaker.
Georgia has a great chance to win it all with a former walk-on as its quarterback. If that doesn’t scream college football, then what does. It’s time to stop the Stetson Bennett slander and hate — jump on the mail truck because, for better or worse, Bennett is the guy who can lead Georgia to its first title in four decades.