Stetson Bennett living the dream he never had as Heisman finalist

NEW YORK — At several different points in Georgia quarterback Stetson Bennett‘s meeting with media on Friday in New York ahead of the Heisman Trophy ceremony did the Blackshear, Ga. native make mention to his backstory. He was a walk-on at Georgia and has had people doubting him all the way through his football career. Never Bennett though. He has always believed in himself and his ability to get the job done.

“When some people or outside people say ‘confidence in yourself,’ I’ve got confidence in myself, but it’s more so confidence in myself to do a job for this team. It’s less so confidence of ‘I’m as good a quarterback as anybody,'” Bennett said. “I don’t think about it in the way of ‘I’m the best quarterback,’ because there are so many different variables and different offenses and things you’re asked to do. There are so many different variables.”

“Us quarterbacks were just talking, people are going to have opinions. It’s not my job to do that,” he added. “I’ve got enough on my plate. I walked on here. I’ve got to focus on doing my job, otherwise I just don’t think I’m going to do it as well.”

Bennett certainly has done that this season, leading Georgia to its first 13-0 record in program history and a second straight College Football Playoff appearance. However, in doing so, he admitted that he never really thought about the possibility of making it to New York as a finalist for the Heisman Trophy.

“I don’t think I ever thought about it … I never really entertained the thought,” Bennett said. “I think Buster (Faulkner) told me preseason, “We’ve got faith in you, this might happen if we go.” I think I just heard it and went ‘Ah yeah.'”

“I was telling these guys earlier, no I didn’t,” Bennett responded when asked if he ever dreamed of winning the Heisman. “I don’t know if that was because I’m from South Georgia, I went to a 3-A [high school], I walked on at UGA, you know all these stories. I don’t know if I could grasp that I would be in a position to do so. Or I think it’s more a huge honor and it’s very important, but to me in the moment I was always, ‘I’m trying to keep my job. I’m trying to win this game on Saturday. I’ve got to do all this stuff.’ It’s tough to worry about more than just that because that’s tough to do. So probably a mixture.”

Whether he dreamed of it or not, Bennett in New York became the latest chapter of his storybook career this week. He was in Arkansas for the Burlsworth Award presentation and knew that the finalists would be announced on ESPN that night. However, he didn’t want to be spending too much time thinking about the possibility while being celebrated for another award.

Knox, my little brother, told me. He came up and grabbed my arm and I could see it in his face and I knew what it was,” Bennett recalled. “I knew of course when the nomination was coming out. Of course, I’d like to go because that would be pretty cool. So when he told me, it’s hard to have a thought. It was tough to take it in because I was in the middle of the Burlsworth and I don’t want to celebrate some other award while I’m there. But it’s the Heisman Trophy, right? A lot of emotion. I’ve had a little bit more time now to think about it and how special this is.”

Bennett’s been to New York just once before so he said he’s looking forward to enjoying the trip with his family and the other finalists. However, he’s certainly thinking about his teammates back in Athens.

“It means we had a really good team. It means a lot of people did a lot of things so I could play well,” Bennett said. “… It is crazy just to be up here. Walked-on here. I am glad you guys are here, bunch of familiar faces at least. I get homesick sometimes. It’s crazy, it’s special. I’m excited to see what this whole thing is.”

“There has been asked of me this year which has been fun for me. I enjoy it a lot. I think that comes from me earning it, me being good enough to do that, right? I don’t think I necessarily was last year. Some spots, but not all the time. That also goes to show how much work our entire offensive team put in this offseason as well as Monk (Todd Monken) and the other position coaches,” Bennett added. “But mainly, if you look how much better Darnell is at running routes. He plays every play. The offensive line—I’ve got sacked seven times. Obviously, Brock. Ladd coming in. When has a dude that looks like me caught for that many touchdowns in an SEC schedule. If he would stay up, he’d have a few more. Dude is incredible. We all love football. Monk is helping us and the coaches are doing such a good job of helping us understand ball. Now we can play together as one.”

The Heisman Trophy presentation ceremony takes place tomorrow, Saturday, night at 8:00 p.m. ET on ESPN. Bennett is guaranteed a top-four finish as one of the finalists in New York. The rest of the top-10 vote getters were announced Thursday.