Stetson Bennett: ‘He’s one of the rarer guys’ in college football

Georgia football fans and the rest of the college football world should stop talking about the chip on Stetson Bennett’s shoulder or his humble walk on beginnings. Who says so — Bennett does.

The Dawgs’ offense this season is a very different animal. Lethal, potent, and on a roll — Bennett is at the center of this offensive revolution. Georgia’s quarterback, the one that everyone doubted, has evolved into the top-caliber quarterback no one thought he could be. So folks, it’s time to start treating Bennett as the star of college football that he has become.

But still, questions from the media continue to focus on his drive to become Georgia’s starting quarterback from those early beginnings as a walk-on. But Bennett is beyond this as he is as focused as he can be, and the past doesn’t feature in his thinking.

Georgia football quarterback Stetson Bennett has earned his status.

Bennett’s words are similar to anyone striving to be the best in their field. Bennett wants to be the best. He said there has never been a chip on his shoulder or that he wants to prove people wrong. He wants to be himself and play his best.

"“It’s hard to describe, but I don’t think of it that way, right… I just want to be the best I can be” Bennett said ahead of the Peach Bowl. ” I love football, and I want to play football. Hesiman ceremony was a huge honor. That’s not why I play, you know. So that’s not going to change the way I play.”"

These Hollywood headlines are nice, but the truth is that Bennett is focused on a Peach Bowl victory and beyond. Offensive coordinator Todd Monken weighed in on the Bennett debate, underlying just how good his quarterback has been this season.

"“The reality is Stetson is a very, very football-smart player. He loves football” said Monken on Wednesday. “I mean, he sits in there, studies it, will be in there late. He wants to know everything about what we’re doing, how to do it better. He’s one of the rarer guys at this level that you can be quarterback controlled, and he can run it. He can get us in and out of plays. He can see it. Has a fantastic football mind”."

Of course, the pressure on Bennett is different these days. It’s still on his shoulders, but he has shifted from wanting to be the best to being the player his teammates look to for leadership and that game-winning mentality.

Georgia knows it can count on Bennett to lead them to victory and a national championship. While the stories about Bennett are great, it’s time to respect him as a good quarterback. He has done enough to earn that title and wear it well.

Dawg fans know he is a legend, and the rest of the college football world should also acknowledge it because it’s the truth. Bennett loves this game and worked hard to get where he is.

Respect that and let him live his life without that story following him. The story is excellent, but Bennett is more than his rise through the ashes story — he is a starting quarterback for the Georgia Bulldogs eyeing his second straight title.