Tag: stetson bennett

5 key to success for the Crimson Tide in the SEC Championship game vs. Georgia

Here’s how Alabama can take down the Bulldogs on Saturday and lock up a spot in the CFP

Alabama opened the 2021 college football season as the top-ranked team that was looking to repeat as national champions. However, after suffering a rough road loss to Texas A&M, the Crimson Tide have been fighting an uphill battle to not only win another championship, but to simply make the playoffs.

Now that the team won out and finished the regular season with an 11-1 final record and a current ranking of No. 3, according to the College Football Playoff committee, there’s only one thing standing between Nick Saban and the chance for another title: the No. 1 Georgia Bulldogs.

Alabama and Georgia have faced off a few times in recent seasons, whether it be in the regular season, the SEC Championship or even the Nation Championship game, the Crimson Tide walked away with a win in all of them.

Now, Georgia will look to end a six-game losing streak that dates all the way back to 2007. Here are five way Alabama could keep that streak going just a bit longer.

Georgia football QB Stetson Bennett named finalist for Burlsworth Trophy

Stetson Bennett has a great chance at winning the Burlsworth Trophy, which is awarded to the top former walk-on player in the country

Georgia football quarterback Stetson Bennett has helped the Bulldogs achieve an undefeated 10-0 record. Bennett, a senior, originally walked-on at Georgia. He played for the UGA scout team. Next, he transferred to Jones County Junior College in 2018 before eventually transferring back to Georgia.

In 2021, Bennett has thrown for 15 touchdown passes, four interceptions, and 1,625 passing yards. Bennett is averaging an impressive 10.9 yards per attempt. Bennett’s mobility has been key to opening up the UGA rushing offense. He’s run for 216 yards and a touchdown this year.

Jones quarterback Stetson Bennett (5) runs the ball against East Mississippi during MACJC Championship Game.(Photo/Bob Smith-For the Clarion Ledger)

Stetson Bennett is putting together a case to be considered for one of the top honors in all of college football: the Burlsworth Trophy

Stetson Bennett has a great chance at winning the Burlsworth Trophy, which is awarded to the top former walk-on player in the country. Bennett is one of three finalists for the award.

Bennett managed to outshine one of his competitors, Arkansas linebacker Grant Morgan, when the two played against each other in October. Morgan has 78 total tackles for the Razorbacks in 2021.

Another finalist is Troy linebacker Carlton Martial, who has 102 total tackles so far this season.

The winner of the Burlsworth Trophy will be announced on Dec. 6, which is two days after the SEC Championship.

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Georgia QB Stetson Bennett named semifinalist for two awards

Bennett getting some love

Georgia bulldogs quarterback Stetson Bennett has been named a semifinalist for two different college football awards.

The senior passer was named one of 20 semifinalists for the Davey O’Brien Award, presented to the nation’s best quarterback.

He was also named one of 10 semifinalists for the Burlsworth Trophy, presented to the country’s most outstanding player who began his career as a walk-on.

Bennett did not come into the season as Georgia’s starting quarterback, but when JT Daniels missed time with an injury Bennett filled in has not looked back.

The former walk-on has guided the Bulldogs to a 9-0 record and the No. 1 spot in the College Football Playoff rankings. He has thrown for 1,412 yards and 14 touchdowns on 80/120 passing. He has been intercepted four times.

Kirby Smart’s often been asked what is separating Bennett from Daniels and typically provides two reasons as to why Bennett has remained the starter despite Daniels being healthy enough to play. Smart points to Bennett’s running ability (Bennett has 193 yards rushing this year) and the fact that he provides continuity to the most important position on the field.

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UGA vs Mizzou: Stetson Bennett hits Arian Smith for 4th down TD

Dawgs take a 7-3 lead with this Bennett -> Smith TD.

About time! Georgia got off to a very slow start in the first quarter against Missouri and was trailing 3-0 when UGA faced a 4th and 6 from the Mizzou 35 yard line.

Just out of field goal range, Kirby Smart decided to go for it. And it resulted in a 35 yard touchdown to Arian Smith on a beautiful throw from Stetson Bennett.  Georgia took a 7-3 lead.

Still, Georgia needs to find a way to keep this going, because it’s not been a pretty start for the No. 1 ranked team in the nation.

Georgia’s Kirby Smart gives QB update ahead of UGA vs. Florida

Here’s coach Smart on Georgia’s quarterback situation ahead of UGA vs. UF…

Georgia head coach Kirby Smart gave an update on the Bulldogs’ quarterback situation in a press conference on Monday.

Since starting UGA’s first game versus Clemson, junior J.T. Daniels has dealt with a core injury and most recently, a lat injury that has held him out since the Vanderbilt matchup in week-four.

Senior Stetson Bennett has played well in Daniels’ absence, throwing for 11 touchdowns with just two interceptions, but with Daniels getting healthy, Georgia has a decision to make. 

“Everything is going to be based on practice, and no decision has been made,” Smart said Monday. “(JT Daniels) did practice Wednesday and did pretty good, and he practiced Thursday and didn’t have pain before, during, or after …. that’s step one.”

“The next step is, can he move, can he throw with accuracy and do the things required to play quarterback.”

Smart told ESPN last week that both signal-callers have their own advantages.

“I’m not sure we know who the better one is based on which game plan we have,” Smart said. “There are teams we play that we have to be able to use the quarterback in the run game. Well, that’s Stetson. There are teams we play that you have to get the ball out quickly and be really accurate. That’s JT. But the first thing with JT is that he’s got to be healthy.”

No. 1 Georgia (7-0) will face Florida (4-3) in Jacksonville this Saturday at 3:30 p.m. ET. 

Kirby Smart outlines plan for Georgia QBs going forward

Kirby talks plan at QB if Stetson and JT get/remain healthy

On Thursday, Georgia head coach Kirby Smart told ESPN that quarterback JT Daniels is the healthiest he’s been since the Vanderbilt game on September 25.

According to Smart, though, that does not mean the coaches are going to make any drastic changes in either direction at the quarterback position.

Stetson Bennett did not go into the season as the starting quarterback, but he’s played well while Daniels has been out. Bennett has played in six of Georgia’s seven games this year and has been efficient with the football while Daniels has been battling an injury to his lat muscle.

Georgia has the week off to prepare for its rivalry game with Florida at the end of the month.

“JT practiced [Wednesday] and did about everything,” Smart told ESPN. “I thought [Wednesday] was the first time since Vanderbilt that I could have said, ‘Man, he looks like he could play.’ Now, he’s rusty, and [Thursday] will probably be the telltale practice because it will be the first time he’s gone back-to-back throwing after he threw a lot Wednesday.”

Smart then pointed out that both quarterbacks can help UGA win games. Bennett has been very productive with his feet this year, rushing the ball and escaping pressure in the pocket. Daniels is your old-school pocket passer and throws the ball with great accuracy. Smart commented on how both of their styles of play can help the Bulldogs win football games.

“I’m not sure we know who the better one is based on which game plan we have,” Smart said. “There are teams we play that we have to be able to use the quarterback in the run game. Well, that’s Stetson. There are teams we play that you have to get the ball out quickly and be really accurate. That’s JT. But the first thing with JT is that he’s got to be healthy.”

Bennett was Georgia’s starting quarterback in 2020 and had his ups and downs. Many Georgia fans have not moved past some of Bennett’s 2020 struggles, especially the Alabama loss, and are not willing to accept that the Dawgs can go all the way with him at quarterback.

Smart talked to that as well.

“I think the feeling in the outside world is that you can’t win it all [the national championship] without JT,” Smart said. “I don’t know or can’t say that’s accurate or not. I know there’s nothing that he’s shown that Stetson hasn’t shown us that leads us to believe that’s the case.”

Bennett this season has thrown for 996 yards, 11 touchdowns and only two interceptions this season while completing 69.5% of his passes. He’s only been sacked two times.

Smart also talked about how Georgia’s offense, though not putting up video game numbers like some college fans expect, has been getting the job done just fine. Georgia has been averaging 38 points per game this season.

“Usually, when the quarterback problem comes is when you’re not productive on offense,” said Smart. “We haven’t run into that. Now, we haven’t been blowing doors off, but we’ve scored and done a good job.”

Stetson Bennett hits Brock Bowers for beautiful TD – Georgia leads 21-7

Stetson to Brock for six

Georgia took a 21-7 lead over Kentucky in the second quarter thanks to a beautiful throw and catch from Stetson Bennett to Brock Bowers.

Previously in the drive, Bowers had a 60 yard touchdown that was called back thanks to a holding call on Georgia offensive lineman Justin Shaffer.

This is Bowers’ fifth touchdown catch of the season. Watch as the true freshman tight end high-points the ball and brings it down to give UGA a 21-7 lead over UK.

Stetson Bennett announced as starter against Kentucky

Stetson Bennett announced as starter vs Kentucky

With quarterback JT Daniels still nursing a lat injury, Stetson Bennett will get the start against the Kentucky Wildcats on Saturday.

Bennett was announced as the starting quarterback ahead of No. 1 Georgia’s game against No. 11 Kentucky.

Bennett has performed well filling in for Daniels, and many are starting to wonder if he should be “filling in” or if he should just takeover the starting position.

Auburn vs Georgia: Grading the Bulldogs

Here’s how we graded Georgia.

Georgia has been… dominant, to say the least so far this season.

The Bulldogs are outscoring their opponents 205-23 through five games. They already have two shutout wins, one over the current No. 13 team in the nation (Arkansas). Georgia hasn’t needed great quarterback play. They haven’t really needed offense yet this season. The defense has been stellar, and it could propel them to the SEC championship game.

Auburn may be the only team that truly stands in the way.

The Tigers have had their ups and downs, but couple Bo Nix overcoming his road demons against LSU this past Saturday with the fact that the Deep South’s Oldest Rivalry is being played inside Jordan-Hare stadium, and we could find ourselves watching a competitive game.

Here’s what the Georgia Bulldogs look like at each position.

Georgia vs Arkansas: Stetson Bennett announced as starter at QB

UGA announced Bennett as the starter…

And it’s official.

Georgia quarterback JT Daniels, who is dealing with a lat injury, will not start today when No. 2 Georgia hosts No. 8 Arkansas in Athens.

Kirby Smart had mentioned Daniels would be a game-time decision and it all depended on how the quarterback did during warmups.

I guess the below video, in which Stetson Bennett is announced as the starter, tells us Daniels was hurting through warmups.

This is awfully unfortunate, but hopefully the UGA defense can lead us to a win here.