Stetson Bennett discusses confidence in first offseason as starter

If you didn’t know who Stetson Bennett was during SEC Media Days last year, you’re not alone. A lot has changed for the Georgia quarterback and the Bulldogs program since then.

In the year since the last installment of media days, the former walk-on took over for JT Daniels as Georgia’s starting quarterback and led the Bulldogs to their first national championship in 40 years. Now, Daniels is at West Virginia and Bennett is heading into the 2022 season as the starter. He acknowledged what this offseason has been like and how his confidence has changed.

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“A little bit,” Bennett said. “Just the reps with the guys, getting to know when they’re going to break, what they’re thinking on specific plays against different routes and what I’m thinking.

“As far as a confidence thing, I think it’s just confidence in the fact that I know more what they’re doing, those reps, repetition increases our confidence in each other. I’d say just development-wise, probably focused on my feet a lot and not making some of the same mistakes I made last year.”

Bennett’s journey from walk-on to national title-winning quarterback has been well-chronicled, and he’s trying to build on an impressive 2021 season. He threw for 2,862 yards on 64.5% passing and 29 touchdowns to cement himself as Georgia’s starter this year.

Bennett opted to return for one last go-round with the Bulldogs to try and defend that title, and he got quite the vote of confidence from Georgia coach Kirby Smart at media days, as well.

“Stetson is one of the least respected good players there is in this country,” Smart said, via DawgsHQ’s Palmer Thombs. “Guess what, we get to see it every day. The kid is a tremendous athlete, he’s got good arm strength. People keep doubting him, and that’s fine with me.”