Stetson Bennett explains the role family has played in his life

Not long ago, the burning question for Kirby Smart and the Georgia Bulldogs was when quarterback JT Daniels would return from injury and take the reins back from Stetson Bennett. Then, after Bennett had established himself as the starter, the question evolved into whether Bennett should even be the starter, after a two-turnover performance against the Crimson Tide resulted in Georgia losing the SEC Championship.

But now, Bennett — fresh off a 20-of-30, 313-yard, three-touchdown performance in a 34-11 rout of Michigan in the Orange Bowl — has put those concerns to bed.

Bennett has provided one of the best storylines of the 2021 college football season, as the former walk-on from Blackshear, Georgia, has put together an incredible performance under center. Ahead of the national championship game on Monday, Bennett thanked his family, saying he is indebted to them for helping him get so far.

“I owe everything to (my family) for, first of all, for raising me in a good Christian house, teaching me right from wrong, which helped me through the past, whatever, not leaving and all that stuff, all that hoopla,” Bennett said Saturday. “They supported me from the walk-on process saying, go, ‘we’ll help you out.’ And they’re here now. They’re supporting me now. My little brothers and my little sister, they’re always there for me. And they’ve got a hectic life.”

Bennett has the chance to avenge his SEC Championship loss on Monday, as the No. 3 Georgia Bulldogs once again face the No. 1 Alabama Crimson Tide — but this time around, the stakes are much higher. Should Bennett find a way to lead Georgia to a victory, he’d bring a national championship back to Athens for the first time since 1980.

Growing up, Bennett wasn’t the only athlete in the family — he mentioned that his younger brothers and sister played their own share of competitive sports, making Bennett even more taken aback by his parents’ dedication to their kids’ athletic careers.

“Good Lord, my mom and my dad, there’s no telling how many miles they’ve traveled all over the country for softball, football, basketball, baseball, soccer. And they never complain about it. All while they’re running businesses,” Bennett said. “So it’s impressive. And it inspires me – I don’t want to sound cliché and cheesy – but it does, it inspires me, if they can do all that and be successful, then what’s a little bit of football?”

Bennett addresses what Georgia national title drought means to him

The Georgia Bulldogs have a chance to make some rare history on Monday, and the impact of defeating Alabama cannot be understated, according to quarterback Stetson Bennett.

Bennett and the Georgia Bulldogs on Monday will face the No. 1 Alabama Crimson Tide in the national title game, with the chance to knock off Alabama and win the championship for the first time since 1980. Georgia has claimed just two national championships in its storied history, in 1980 and 1942. Bennett, a native of Georgia himself, said he spoke to several former Georgia Bulldogs about the upcoming matchup, a chance to win the program’s third championship.

“Being a player who graduated a few years ago, Kyle and I were talking about this the other day, I know Lindsay Scott, he’s from Wayne County,” Bennett said. “He’s down there from where I’m from. And obviously I know Herschel. Talked to Buck Belue and a few other guys on the team. And I grew up listening to Larry Munson highlights on YouTube, all his calls.”

Bennett, a former walk-on, has become an unsung hero in Georgia’s hunt for a national championship. He first came on for Georgia after the season-opening starter, JT Daniels, suffered a core injury, and Bennett has since catalyzed the Georgia offense.

Daniels, a transfer from USC, assumed the Georgia Bulldogs’ starting quarterback role late in the 2020 season, and the Irvine, California native completed 80 of his 119 pass attempts for 1,231 passing yards, ten touchdowns and two interceptions. Daniels took over as Georgia’s starter once again in 2021, but he missed time early in the season with a lat and oblique injury. In his absence, Bennett — a former walk-on — has put on a show, using his arm and legs to will Georgia’s offense to victory.

Bennett has thrown for 2,638 yards and 27 touchdowns, coupled with just seven interceptions, all while holding a 64.4 completion rate. He struggled in Georgia’s SEC Championship loss to Alabama, throwing two costly interceptions, but Bennett quickly won back Georgia fans with a memorable Orange Bowl performance, completing 20 of 30 passes for 313 passing yards and three touchdowns, while rushing for 32 yards.

“But there’s a point in time when you become a player that you can’t really be a fan anymore,” Bennett said. “And I don’t really know when that switch was. And I don’t really know why. But you kind of flip a switch because you go through the day-to-day and you know all these guys. Can’t really be fans of them.

“You can’t really be fans – I don’t really know how to explain it. I guess I do know the magnitude for everybody else out there because I was a fan at one point. So I know it’s a pretty big deal.”