After returning home to Blackshear to discuss his options with his family and meeting for a second time with Georgia coach Kirby Smart, Stetson Bennett has decided …
That he still isn’t sure where he wants to spend the rest of his football career.
“He’s still undecided,” said Smart, speaking to reporters before a Bulldog Club appearance at the Columbus Convention and Trade Center. “He’s looking at some different options. We’re real excited about what he’s done for us, and we’re exhausting every option to try to keep Stetson with us.”
Smart said that includes the “possibility” of placing Bennett on scholarship.
Bennett, a redshirt freshman who walked on from Pierce County, has been contemplating a transfer since the end of spring practice. The 6-foot, 172-pounder did not play for the Bulldogs last season but earned praise from coaches and teammates for his exceptional performances leading the scout-team offense against Georgia’s defense in practices.
Bennett entered and exited Georgia’s spring drills as the No. 3 quarterback behind incumbent starter Jake Fromm and freshman early enrollee Justin Fields. Bennett took snaps with both the Red and Black squads in the G-Day Game. He finished with 63 yards on 5-of-9 passing.
“He’s a very talented young man; I’ve spoken on that behalf several times,” Smart said. “We hope we can keep him with us.”
Bennett has proven to be far from your average third-string quarterback. Defensive coordinator Mel Tucker called him “a beast” for his ability to escape pressure and throw the ball out of the pocket. Lorenzo Carter said Bennett made his “look silly” in Rose Bowl practices as they prepared for Oklahoma’s Baker Mayfield.
Still, Bennett left Pierce County without any major college offers. His best were Middle Tennessee and Georgia Southern. But he’s also an exceptional student, he chose to walkon at UGA, where both his parents attended school.
“We’ve invested a lot into Stetson and we’re excited to see what he can do,” Smart said. “We’re encouraging him to stay so he can get that opportunity. We certainly respect what he’s done for the university so far and he’s a good student, too. So we’re selling him on a Georgia education.”
