Stetson Bennett defies all odds and becomes Heisman Trophy finalist

CODE RED ALERT — Georgia football starting quarterback Stetson Bennett aka the Mailman/Milkman, is heading to New York City as one of the four Heisman Trophy finalists. This statement is no joke, but the cold hard truth as the former walk-on finally got the respect he deserved.

As Georgia fans, we know how good Bennett is and why he deserves this honor, but that doesn’t typically mean these things actually happen. However, when one looks at what it means to be a Heisman Trophy winner, he is a walking definition.

Bennett has made history so many times as the starting quarterback and is still working on making more, so for him to get the invitation to New York City is the cherry on top of the cake. After taking his team to another 12-0 perfect season and redeeming himself in the SEC Championship game with multiple Heisman moments, his miraculous story adds another chapter.

Georgia football quarterback Stetson Bennett is New York City bound.

Since he became a finalist this evening, I paced around my living room in disbelief, feeling like someone had punked me. After 15 minutes of pacing and multiple texts from people also freaking out, it hit me that the Mailman was actually a finalist. Earlier today, I was arguing with fellow college football fans about why Bennett deserved a finalist spot, never thinking it would happen. Not because I didn’t believe in him but because that is how this crazy college football world works.

The Heisman Trophy hasn’t always gotten awarded to the best player in college football, and while Bennett may not win the hallowed trophy, an invitation feels like what needed to happen. Who knows — at this point, I’m never saying never again when it comes to Bennett because this fairy tale keeps getting better.

Former quarterback Aaron Murray called him the best Georgia football quarterback ever and has been singing his praises all season long. That compliment is quite the honor because, well, it’s coming from one of the other greatest Bulldog quarterbacks. However, the fans believed, alongside Murray and the others — the Mailman is elite. Seeing him named a finalist is surreal but oh so deserving because what he has been able to do is things other Heisman finalists and winners have even come close to accomplishing. He has no quit, and that grit got him to New York City.

Bennett’s numbers may not add up to fellow finalists Ohio State quarterback CJ Stroud, USC quarterback Caleb Williams and TCU quarterback Max Duggan, but he has just as much heart, if not more. This award isn’t only based on stats — even though so many people hold that as the highest Heisman standard.

What Bennett has is grit, tenacity, and leadership on and off the field, plus he is still an elite quarterback. Who cares if he doesn’t have 45 touchdowns and 5,000 passing yards — Bennett has done something the other three cannot say they have and has done it two years in a row at this point. He took down last year’s Heisman Trophy winner in the national championship, and now Bennett has a shot at the award himself.

Georgia fans — we did it for the first time since 1992 when Garrison Hearst went; there will be a Dawg in the Big Apple. We finally got a quarterback in New York City as a Heisman finalist, and he is the former walk-on from South Georgia with one of the greatest football stories of all time. Rudy and the others could never, which makes the Mailman the best legend of them all.

The Heisman Trophy ceremony will be on ESPN on December 10 at 8 p.m. ET, where Bennett and the other finalist will find out who will join this hallowed brotherhood. Can Bennett make it happen? At this point, anything is possible.