There’s no quarterback controversy in Athens as the Georgia Bulldogs begin their quest for back-to-back titles. Stetson Bennett is the man as he returns for the 2022 season, and despite delivering a national title, doubters remain for the Dawgs’ signal caller. His head coach isn’t one of them.
Looking back on the title game from the podium at SEC Media Days, Kirby Smart knew that Bennett would brush off a shaky start and trusted that he would make the plays he was capable of. The former walk-on did just that, leading two touchdown drives that helped to take down the Crimson Tide. Heading into the fall, the Bulldogs are expected to be a playoff contender once again, and Smart is just fine with the rest of the country continuing to underestimate his quarterback.
“Stetson is one of the least respected good players there is in this country, and guess what? We get to see it every day. The kid is a tremendous athlete, he’s got good arm strength. People just keep doubting him and that’s fine with me,” Smart said.
Without the whispers of a quarterback competition in camp, Smart added that Bennett has only grown as a leader and has earned even more support from his teammates than in years past.
“It’s hard for players around you to have conviction that you’re the guy if you’re not the starter. He wasn’t the starter at this time last year, at this time two years ago…Once he won the job, I think he’s created momentum with our skill players because there’s not a doubt there. They understand he knows the system, he can get them the ball, he can throw the ball vertically down the field, he can throw deep comebacks, he can scramble around and make a play with his feet,” Smart explained saying that he’s earned additional credibility from his teammates.
Never one to make things about himself, Bennett continues to shrug off the critics, saying that “my worries are just about being good, we’ll let everything else sort itself out.”
Bennett returns with plenty of weapons at his disposal, including a tight end room—led by Brock Bowers—that is largely considered the best in the country. Zamir White and James Cook are gone from the UGA backfield, but Kendall Milton and Kenny McIntosh return to lead the rushing attack along with newcomer Branson Robinson. Wideouts Adonai Mitchell and Kearis Jackson should more than makeup for the loss of Jermaine Burton and George Pickens on the outside.
The Bulldogs begin their title defense on September 3rd against former UGA defensive coordinator Dan Lanning and the Oregon Ducks at Mercedes Benz Stadium.
