Georgia football legend Stetson Bennett IV made a wise decision to return for one more season.
Fresh off a national championship victory, Georgia football star quarterback Stetson Bennett IV decided it made the most sense for him to return to school for one last ride.
Bennett elected to use his sixth year of eligibility to his advantage. The former Georgia walk-on previously redshirted and opted not to make the 2020 COVID year count towards his eligibility. Bennett may have other interests outside of football, but for the time being, why not play one last season for the Dawgs? Here is what Bennett said about why he decided to come back to Georgia.
“There was a lot of things that went into it, the biggest one being that I love football and I love the University of Georgia,” said Bennett at SEC Media Days. “I think it’s the biggest honor in the world to represent this great state and all the fans across the world with my teammates beside me.”
This will be Bennett’s first, and only, season as the unquestioned starter for the Bulldogs.
Georgia football: Stetson Bennett IV reveals why he came back for sixth year
At best, Bennett is a borderline draftable NFL prospect at the quarterback position. He has excellent touch on his deep ball, he can move around a bit as a runner, and above all else, he is a champion, having played against the best competition college football could ever hope to provide. However, Bennett is undersized, was underrecruited and has been a bit mistake prone in the past.
So with there being no guarantees beyond this season when it comes to Bennett’s football future, why not run it back? Although Kirby Smart does recruit the quarterback position well, Carson Beck has not done enough to overtake Bennett on the depth chart, Brock Vandagriff feels like he is a year away and Gunner Stockton is only a true freshman. Plus, Georgia has a plethora of weapons.
Not only does Bennett have the opportunity to start for the reigning national champions, but he has a stable of running backs to lean on, a quality offensive line to protect him, an underrated receiving corps to throw to and the best tight end room in football. Factor in Georgia expected to be dominant again defensively, why would anybody want to walk away from such an opportunity?
Ultimately, this year is all about Bennett getting to play with his friends and in front of his family one last time. The Blackshear native is proud to play for the University of Georgia. To have the opportunity to enter fall camp as the unquestioned starter is untrodden territory for the former walk-on. “The Mailman” delivered in his finest hour, but as it turns out, his story is not yet over.
Georgia opens on Sept. 3 vs. Dan Lanning’s Oregon Ducks at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta.
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