Georgia football news: Stetson Bennett wins, players opt out and more
Georgia football has had a busy 24 hours as the Dawgs rack up awards, learn more about their Peach Bowl opponent, and add another recruit to the 2023 class. Monday proved to be a big day for guys named Stetson Bennett, and we’re not talking about making the All-SEC list.
Much like the talking season, right now is the post-season talking season with all the transfer portal, recruiting and bowl discussions. Not to mention the constant debate about why Bennett isn’t good enough for anything — only winning MVPs and national titles. However, don’t tell that to the Heisman voters because he is one of the four finalists headed to New York City on Dec. 10 for the ceremony.
The All-SEC list dropped, with nine Bulldogs finding their name on the list. It was the second most behind Alabama. Monday was just busy, and it was a good busy because the Dawgs got all the good news. Here is Tuesday’s news brief on the three biggest topics we didn’t cover on Monday.
Georgia football quarterback Stetson Bennett wins the Burlsworth Trophy.
After getting announced as a Heisman Trophy finalist, Bennett went to the Burlsworth Trophy ceremony and won. The Burlsworth is given to the most outstanding college player that started their career as a walk-on. We all know Bennett’s story by now, and last year he finished as a finalist, so it’s great to see him bring home that trophy.
To be a walk-on and earn a scholarship takes a lot of hard work, dedication, and many sacrifices. Bennett is a team player, so while he will acknowledge his hard work, he appreciates his teammates and credits them more.
Baker Mayfield and Hunter Renfrow are both former recipients of this award if that tells you anything. Bennett could win a few more awards this year, but he only has another playoff run on his mind.
Ohio State receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba won’t face off against Georgia football in the Peach Bowl semifinal.
On Monday, Jaxon Smith-Njigba announced he would not play in the semifinal game against Georgia as he will get ready for the 2023 NFL Draft while rehabbing a leg injury. He only played in three games this year after getting hurt against Notre Dame in the opening game.
While Smith-Njigba hasn’t been a huge addition to the team this year, the Buckeyes still have their all-star receivers Marvin Harrison Jr. and Emeka Egbuka. Harrison Jr. has 1,157 yards and 12 touchdowns on the season, while Egbuka has 1,039 yards and nine scores.
Smith-Njigba set records last year for receptions and yards, so it won’t be as fun to face off with Ohio State with all three of their talented receivers playing in the game. However, we wish Smith-Njigba a healthy recovery.
Georgia football flips a 3-star offensive tackle from Brunswick.
Jamal Meriweather, a Brunswick High offensive tackle, announced he was flipping schools from Central Florida to Georgia. The massive 6-6.5 287-pound tackle has that kind of size you cannot pass on because, with a little development, Meriweather will be a stud.
He was in Athens for the Tennessee game, and while he initially committed to Central Florida in April, Meriweather made the flip. Brunswick is where current starting offensive tackle Warren McClendon is from, and across town, Jack Podlesny played at Glynn Academy.
The Golden Isles is a hotbed of athletes, and Georgia is tapping into that resource. Meriweather is a big pick-up for the Dawgs because of his size and coachability. We will have more on his commitment in a later post.
Georgia is just getting started this December in terms of being in the headlines. However, it won’t be for negative things, but for positive ones. The Dawgs are working the recruiting trail hard, evaluating the transfer portal, and making sure their players have support at these award events. Georgia is on a roll right now, and there is no end in sight.