Stetson Bennett goes in fourth round to Los Angeles Rams

Georgia quarterback Stetson Bennett has found his next landing spot. Taken with the No. 128 overall pick in the 2023 NFL Draft, Bennett will head to the Los Angeles Rams where he’ll serve as a backup to fellow former Bulldog Matthew Stafford.

The story of Bennett’s career path has been told countless times. A former walk-on turned scholarship player and National Championship hero, Bennett not only brought Georgia the program’s first title in 41 decades but also followed it up with a second straight.

Bennett began his career at Georgia in 2017 as a walk-on tasked with running the scout team. He earned praise there from players and defensive coordinator Mel Tucker in preparation for the Bulldogs’ appearance in the Rose Bowl against Oklahoma for the way he imitated Heisman Trophy winner Baker Mayfield. That following spring, Bennett decided to transfer away – going to Jones College in Ellisville, Miss. – before returning the following season in 2019 on scholarship.

Bennett backed up Jake Fromm in 2019 and started the 2020 season down the depth chart. However, in the opener against Arkansas, Georgia’s offense was struggling and Bennett was the only experienced option available. He came in and saved the day, taking over the starting job a week later for a top-10 matchup with Auburn. Bennett threw 240 yards and a touchdown in the win before going for 238 and two touchdowns – plus a rushing score – the following week versus Tennessee.

Bennett started five games for Georgia in 2020 before struggling in the rivalry game against Florida. Battling an injury there as well, JT Daniels took over the starting spot for the final four games of the season and led the Bulldogs to a 4-0 finish and a Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl win over top-10 Cincinnati.

Daniels would go into 2021 as the starter, but after a pair of injuries early in the season, Bennett had another chance. This time, he didn’t give way. After an impressive outing in the second game of the season with five touchdowns on 10-of-12 passing against UAB, Bennett would start the final 10 games of the season leading Georgia to an appearance in the SEC Championship Game and College Football Playoffs. There, he played some of his best football, throwing for a combined five touchdowns and no interceptions in wins over Michigan and Alabama. Bennett led a pair of touchdown drives in the fourth quarter to secure the victory against the Crimson Tide for Georgia’s first National Championship since 1980. Bennett earned Offensive MVP honors in both the Orange Bowl semifinal and National Championship Game.

Bennett opted to return for a sixth season in 2022 still having a COVID-year of eligibility remaining. Doing so allowed him the opportunity to get all the work with the first-team and to have his best season to date.

Bennett became the first Georgia quarterback to throw for 4,000 yards in a single season as he was named a finalist for the Heisman Trophy finishing fourth in voting. He brought home the Burlsworth Trophy as the nation’s top former walk-on and the Manning Award for the top quarterback in the country including postseason performance.

Bennett threw for 300 yards or more in six games during the 2022 season including each of the College Football Playoff outings. Combining for 37 touchdowns passing and rushing, Bennett led the Bulldogs to a perfect 15-0 record that included wins over Oregon in the season-opener, a No. 1 ranked Tennessee team plus LSU in the SEC Championship, Ohio State in the Peach Bowl and TCU for the National Championship.

Bennett helped lead a comeback effort in the win over the Buckeyes as he threw for 190 yards in the fourth quarter alone. Bennett won Offensive MVP for the effort and would follow that up with an even more impressive outing in the National Championship Game totaling six touchdowns in a 65-7 win over TCU. Just as he had in the both SEC Championship and the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl, Bennett took home MVP honors.

Bennett is the sixth Bulldog taken in the 2023 NFL Draft joining teammates Jalen Carter (Eagles), Broderick Jones (Steelers), Nolan Smith (Eagles), Darnell Washington (Steelers) and Kelee Ringo (Eagles).