Kirby Smart on Stetson Bennett being a Heisman finalist: 'It's a great honor'

Stetson Bennett put together another solid season and proved last year was no fluke with Georgia. The national champion quarterback was named a Heisman finalist along with winner Caleb Williams (USC), C.J. Stroud (Ohio State) and Max Duggan (TCU). Bulldogs head coach Kirby Smart did not hold back the praise for his quarterback after he made it to New York, ahead of another potential national championship run for Georgia.

“It’s a great honor for his resiliency to be named one of the four finalists,” Smart said. “I don’t think anyone could have written a script with what he’s done in terms of start to finish with trials, tribulations, ups and downs, highs and lows throughout his career. To have that be near the end of it is pretty special, you know, especially for Georgia. It’s special for our program or university and especially for Stetson and his family because, you know, he earned it by the way he played on the field.”

Bennett did not have other worldly stats like some of his counterparts, but his 27 total touchdowns were key for the Bulldogs offense all season long.

Going into the semifinals, Bennett has 3,425 yards, 20 touchdowns, six interceptions and a 67.9% completion percentage. He also added seven touchdowns on the ground through 13 games.

That mark of 3,425 passing yards in a single-season currently ranks him fourth-all time in school history. If Georgia can advance to the national championship game again, he could potentially get a chance to break Aaron Murray’s single-season passing yardage mark.

Stroud, despite taking a dip in his stats compared to last season, was still a Heisman Trophy finalist. He finished the season with 3,340 yards, 37 touchdowns, six interceptions and a 66.2% completion percentage. 

On paper, it certainly looks like Ohio State has the advantage at quarterback. However, Bennett has the big game experience when the Buckeyes’ star makes his first start in the College Football Playoff.

Bennett should get plenty of help from star tight end Brock Bowers, who could be quite the challenge for the Ohio State defense. This year, Bowers has 52 catches, 726 receiving yards, six touchdowns, 14 yards per catch, six carries, 93 rushing yards and three rushing touchdowns. In his career, Bowers has 108 catches for 1,608 yards, 10 touchdowns, 14.9 yards per catch, 10 carries, 149 rushing yards and four rushing touchdowns.

No. 1 Georgia takes on No. 4 Ohio State in the Peach Bowl in the College Football Playoff Semifinals Dec. 31.