Stetson Bennett
the SCOUTING REPORT
I’m glad this is a UGA part of the state. I don’t know that I could have written that in the Columbus area of Georgia. But since Georgia has now won 13 of the last 16 games against the War Eagles. If a member of the secondary had batted a pass down in the miracle Auburn win of 2013, you could make it 14-of-16.
During those 16 seasons, Georgia is also 8-0 in Athens. Saturday’s 27-6 win was domination. It could have been much worse.
Kudos to Bulldog QB Stetson Bennett, who’s proving that his arm, smarts, and 5’11”, 190-pound junior body are all big enough to play quarterback in the SEC.
The youngster from Pierce County, who has played in two games and started only once at Georgia, last Saturday against Auburn, has proven that he can play.
To some of the older players, he proved it when he was playing the role of Baker Mayfield for Georgia’s scout team when the Bulldogs were getting ready for Oklahoma in the 2018 Rose Bowl National Semifinal Game.
Bennett was a 3-year starting QB at Pierce County in 2015, and 2016. The Bears finished 10-3, 7-4, and 9-4 during those three seasons.
In his junior season, his team lost 41-40 to Bacon County, yes, that Class AA Bacon County that Vidalia beat 49-22 in Alma.
Bennett was named to the Class AAA All-State second team as a senior. The Bears made the quarterfinals, where they were beaten 56-21 by Crisp County.
Those are hardly stats that get you recruited by Georgia.
But so far, in two games, one that he didn’t start, he has completed 37 of 57 attempted passes for 451 yards and 3 TD’s with no interceptions. continued from page
No, those aren’t quite Baker Mayfield stats; but you’ll remember that Mayfield was also a walk-on, at two schools, Texas Tech and then Oklahoma. He ended up winning the Heisman Trophy. Now, I’ll doubt that Bennett wins a Heisman Trophy. But I believe he has a chance to win something Mayfield never won, and that’s winning a national title.
I know it’s early, and I’m pretty sure “Your Mind on Line” will light up with the “John Conner is crazy” comments.
But I like what I see in this Georgia team. The offensive line, running backs, receivers, and defense make up what could be a tremendous football team.
Maybe all the Bulldogs need is someone to push the buttons. Maybe that person is Stetson Bennett IV. Wouldn’t that be a great story? By the way, the 2020 Bulldogs continue their journey this Saturday against an unbeaten Tennessee team. The Volunteers are 2-0 with wins over South Carolina and Missouri. That game will be televised by CBS at 3:30 this Saturday. And remember, win that one, and we’re going to Tuscaloosa unbeaten. Hey, we already own half of Alabama. We might as well own the other half, too.
