Georgia football starting quarterback Stetson Bennett and Tennessee quarterback Hendon Hooker are more similar than just in age. These guys are two of the best in the SEC and the country when it comes to running their offenses efficiently. Hooker gets regarded as elite, while Bennett often receives some form of disrespect.
There are things that Hooker does better than Bennett, obviously, but at the same time, these two are more similar than people want to admit. We will get the obvious out of the way, as both guys are two of the oldest college players in the country right now. Bennett just turned 25 last week, while Hooker will turn 25 in January.
When you stack these two quarterbacks together, comparing them isn’t an insult to Hooker. They are two mature quarterbacks who know their offenses like the back of their hands. These two guys are two of the most efficient quarterbacks this year.
Georgia football quarterback Stetson Bennett and Tennessee quarterback Hendon Hooker are eerily similar on two important downs
Hooker has gone 156-of-219 for 2,338 yards, 21 touchdowns, and one interception while completing 71.23% of his passes. He also has 73 carries for 421 yards and four scores. Bennett has completed 181-of-267 passes for 2,349 yards, nine scores and three interceptions. He completes 67.79% of his passes, which fell off after last week against Florida. Bennett has 28 carries for 179 yards and five scores as well.
Those numbers are pretty similar, but this article is about what these two quarterbacks make happen on third and fourth downs. Two of the most important downs of the drive and these two have put up similar numbers.
#UGAvsTN The QBs on 3rd/4th down in '22:
— Brent Rollins (@BrentRollinsPhD) November 1, 2022
Stetson Bennett:
83.2 passing grade
71% adjusted comp.
77% of throws past the sticks
62 drop-backs
Hendon Hooker:
67.1 passing grade
62% adjusted comp.
63% of throws past the sticks
68 drop-backs
Both converted 30 into 1st downs
These numbers are wild to look at because many find that Hooker is leaps and bounds better than Bennett. He is better, but this shows that Bennett is better than what a lot of people think. They are equal on third down and fourth down — these numbers prove it.
Both Tennessee and Georgia have top 20 third-down defenses in the country. The Dawgs are No. 10 overall, and the Vols are No.18. Georgia gives up 28.8%, while the Vols give up 30.7%. Offensively, they have top 20 third-down teams as well. Georgia is No. 6, and the Vols are No.12. The Dawgs convert 52%, and Tennessee converts 50%. Those numbers are so good and prove why these two teams have some of the most efficient offenses.
Both teams have played one team in that Top 20 third down defense conversion in Missouri and Alabama. So that correlates with these stats. Now Hooker has been much better in terms of making phenomenal throws because Bennett continues to try and force too much, but they are still very similar.
Bennett and Hooker are so efficient and smart when it comes to running their offenses. Comparing them goes to show that this game in Athens on Saturday will be an incredible matchup. Similar quarterbacks who are eyeing greatness. One has been here, and the other has the talent to make it happen, so who knows what will happen. These third and fourth downs will be the ones to watch because they are the ones where the elite separates itself from the normal.