Stetson Bennett keeps walk-on roots close to his heart at Heisman ceremony
NEW YORK — Georgia quarterback Stetson Bennett is proud to be a walk-on. The Heisman Trophy finalist – and fourth-place finisher – won the Burlsworth Award earlier in the week as the nation’s best player to begin his career as a walk-on, and while up in New York for the slightly more prestigious award, he made certain that his days as a walk-on weren’t a distant memory.
After winning the award on Monday, Bennett joked that he would have loved for his teammates to be with him but said that they couldn’t have come on stage because they “took the easy way out and got a scholarship out of high school.” Those same teammates were on his mind Saturday night, but he also made sure to shoutout the guys that put in the work for Georgia on the scout team, many of whom are walk-ons just like he once was.
“I mean, I love each and every one of our teammates. I tell them all the time I’m just a fan. I like watching them play football,” Bennett said when asked about the importance of his team’s success for his ability to get to New York as a Heisman finalist. “Javon Bullard, seeing him run around like he’s mighty mouse, having five something sacks against Tennessee. Jalen Carter being Superman. Our offensive line is unbelievable. I think I got sacked seven times this year. The wide outs and the backs who do freaky things whenever they get the ball in their hands. I think the game is easy for me because all I’ve got to do is get the ball in their hands and let them go play football. So as long as I can do that, I think we’ll be ok. I wouldn’t be able to do anything without those guys.”
“I do want to say one more thing. As a walk-on, I think we have the best scout team in America on offense and defense,” Bennett made sure to add after hearing the other three finalists answer the same question. “They play so hard every single week. It’s their games. That’s how I used to view it. It’s their games during the week. I don’t think we’d be the team we are without them.”
Bennett’s comments throughout the week – both at the Burlsworth Award and Heisman Trophy presentations – made clear one thing: while he might be on scholarship now, his time spent as a walk-on is still a part of who he is. The reason he loves football isn’t because of the fame that comes with it. Instead, it’s the beauty of a sport that sees 11 players on the field – and the team that surrounds them – come together to make one mission possible, including the walk-ons.
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“It’s almost like a painting. I don’t know, it’s artistic. It’s beautiful,” Bennett said. “It’s never the same. You never know what’s going to happen. There’s concrete rules, but who knows what’s going to happen. That’s the exciting part, I just enjoy it. It keeps me involved.”
As for the advice he’d share with somebody that wants to one day be in his position, say maybe a high schooler with dreams of playing College Football but isn’t getting the attention they want or even the kid on the team that’s the often overlooked walk on, Bennett preached the value of patience. You might have to wait for your time, but when the opportunity comes, pounce on it.
“Just patience. Patience and continue to get better,” Bennett said. “It’s a long road. If not, it probably won’t work out. You gotta know what you’re signing up for before you sign up for it.”
“If you’re not good enough now then a) you better hit a growth spurt or some freaky physical trait or b) you better be curious and start learning and work every single day. That’s what it’s going to take,” he added. “As much as you might think you are now, you’re not good enough yet. You might be close, but you’re not yet, and you’ve got to keep chasing that every day.”
