Stetson Bennett says Nolan Smith is Georgia's vocal leader

On the field, there are all kinds of different leaders and ways of being a leader. Georgia quarterback Stetson Bennett leads the team with his calm and poised demeanor. But while he is quiet and reserved, defensive star Nolan Smith is not. In fact, the way Bennett sees it, Nolan is Georgia’s vocal leader.

“Nolan doesn’t hesitate too much. He says what he thinks and is consistent with what he thinks. So, there’s never been a question, for me, where he stood,” said Bennett. “We struggled a little bit, and the defense had our back that game. And then, for him to come out and just say, ‘Hey, all this talk is whatever.’ It puts that to bed, and it makes me love the guy. Like, alright, well, that’s my teammate. He’s for me; he’s a ride-or-die. That’s my guy.

“He is our vocal leader. He says stuff, and people listen. He talks smack in practice and runs around. We try to get back to him whenever we’re playing against each other. But it’s fun, that banter. I think he adds a little levity to the whole team and makes me laugh and have a good time.”

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As Georgia gears up for their huge SEC East rivalry matchup against the Florida Gators, fans can’t help but remember Bennetts’ struggles in last year’s matchup. Last year’s game was arguably Bennett’s worst game of the season. He finished that contest completing ten of his 19 pass attempts for 161 yards throwing one touchdown and two interceptions. Although Bennett struggled, Smith and the defense stepped up, holding the Gators to just seven points. The Georgia defense also forced three turnovers on the game, with one interception returned for six by former star linebacker turned Philadelphia Eagle Nakobe Dean.

Bennett admits Florida rivalry going to home-and-home ‘would be cool’

Bennett has been a member of the Georgia Bulldogs vs. Florida Gators rivalry for quite some time. But because of the game being played in the neutral site of Jacksonville, FL, he has never experienced what it is like to play down in The Swamp. But that hasn’t stopped him from envisioning what it would be like to take down the Gators on their home field. When asked about the possibility of changing the site for their rivalry matchup, Bennett admitted that going to a home-and-home format ‘would be cool.’

“You know the grass is always greener,” said Bennett. “But I don’t know; it would be cool playing in Gainesville. It’s hard to say. I don’t really know exactly what that would mean for Jacksonville, Athens, Gainesville, the city, and all that stuff. But it would be cool to play down there. But as far as permanently, I don’t know.”

This Saturday’s matchup will be Bennetts’s third time taking on the Gators. In his career, he is 1-1 and will look to break that tie with a win in Jacksonville. The Atlanta, GA, native has not fared so well against Florida. In his two matchups against the Gators, Bennett has completed 15 of his 35 pass attempts for 239 yards, two touchdowns, and three interceptions.