Kirk Herbstreit: Stetson Bennett can change Georgia quarterback narrative in CFP

Georgia’s quarterback room has been a hot topic all season long. JT Daniels opened the season as the starter, but an injury forced Stetson Bennett to step up into that role. Bennett has held Georgia’s quarterback job ever since, even with Daniels seemingly healthy enough to return.

With Bennett locked in as Georgia’s starting quarterback as the College Football Playoff gets underway, College GameDay analyst Kirk Herbstreit admits that it could be hard for Bennett to change Georgia’s quarterback narrative. Some people will be calling for Daniels regardless of how Bennett plays. But if Bennett can lead Georgia to a championship, Herbstreit believes that the conversation would be different.

“Stetson Bennett’s another guy that, I remember when he came in and I didn’t know who he was,” Herbstreit said. “I didn’t follow his story at that point. Respectfully, he looked like just a little guy coming out there. I think people have doubted him since he’s been there and it’s provided this chip that we’ve now learned to love about his game. Even with everything he’s done, there’s still people that are like, ‘Where’s JT Daniels?’ In the Michigan game, if he throws a pick, you can just feel the energy. ‘When is JT Daniels going to be in there?'”

Bennett has been solid as Georgia’s quarterback this year

On the season, Bennett has thrown for 2,325 yards, 24 touchdowns and seven interceptions. He also has the ability to move around in the pocket and extend plays with his legs. Bennett also has 251 yards rushing with another score on the ground.

“I think his mobility has been critical to keeping plays alive and a good compliment to what they’re doing with the running game,” Herbstreit continued. “How do you get over that hump? You beat Michigan, you play in the national championship, you play well and you beat Alabama. Other than that, I don’t know if anything is going to allow this perception, and by the way I don’t agree with it, but how do you change that narrative? That’s what you do.

“You don’t turn the ball over. You don’t have to be Bryce Young, be Joe Burrow throwing for 525 the other day, but you do have to go out there and make some plays and put the ball on the money and not turn it over and win. Then you go to Indianapolis and you do it over again. Avenge your only loss of the year. That would make the narrative completely go away. Anything short of that, I think you’ll find people questioning whether or not they made the right call in going with him all year. I’m not agreeing with that, I just think that’ll be the narrative from a lot of people.”

While Bennett hasn’t played poorly, he has, at times, left others wondering if Georgia’s offensive upside would be higher if Daniels was leading the way. Regardless, Georgia head coach Kirby Smart has made it clear Bennett is his starting quarterback. And that isn’t changing entering the most important game of Georgia’s season.