He started as a walk-on quarterback, then a transfer, then back to UGA, then a back-up again, then a national champion, and now a Heisman Trophy finalist.
Bennett was named a finalist for the Heisman on Monday night. He’ll be joined in New York by USC quarterback Caleb Williams, TCU quarterback Max Duggan and Ohio State’s CJ Stroud.
Bennett, a former walk-on who won the Burlsworth Trophy on Monday night, was not the most popular selection for the award. Considered a “game manager” by college football fans, many thought there were better options for the game’s most prestigious award.
But the defending champ, who has 3,425 passing yards, 20 touchdowns, 6 interceptions and 7 rushing scores, has a chance to become Georgia’s third Heisman winner and first since Herschel. But more importantly, he has a chance to become Georgia’s first two-time national title winner.
Here’s some nice, and some not-so-nice Twitter reaction to Bennett being named a finalist for the award…
𝑬𝒎𝒑𝒊𝒓𝒆 𝑺𝒕𝒂𝒕𝒆 𝒐𝒇 𝑴𝒊𝒏𝒅
▪️ Heisman Finalist, @StetsonIv #GoDawgs pic.twitter.com/rI5aiRkSRf
— Georgia Football (@GeorgiaFootball) December 5, 2022
Walk-on
Scout team
Juco
Backup
Emergency duty
Starter
Injured
Backup
Starter
MVP
National Champ
Returner
Starter
SEC Champ
Heisman FinalistThe Stetson Bennett timeline will now see him among the nation's top four players: https://t.co/xrNofy2MLp pic.twitter.com/Fx1XQXVXMi
— Radi Nabulsi (@RadiNabulsi) December 5, 2022
Wow! So proud! #GoDawgs @StetsonIv pic.twitter.com/xiAI71Bsb5
— Denise B. Bennett (@momof5__) December 6, 2022
The 2022 Heisman Trophy finalists…
– USC QB Caleb Williams
– TCU QB Max Duggan
– Ohio State QB CJ Stroud
– Georgia QB Stetson Bennett pic.twitter.com/5wCqiRkoXW— RedditCFB (@RedditCFB) December 5, 2022
Players that should’ve been a Heisman finalist before Stetson Bennett:
– Blake Corum
– Drake Maye
– Michael Penix Jr.
– Marvin Harrison Jr.
– Bijan Robinson
– Hendon Hooker
– Bo Nix
– Bryce YoungJust an inexplicable decision.
— Nico (@elitetakes_) December 6, 2022
I’ve still yet to see anybody give a fraction of a legit reason why Stetson Bennett shouldn’t be in New York this weekend.
Only fans of rival quarterbacks that Stetson outplayed and beat head to head getting all up in their feelings.
I’ll wait… pic.twitter.com/JZuVqVCMlI
— Logan Booker (@LoganMBooker) December 6, 2022
Stetson Bennett: 3,609 total yards, 27 total touchdowns and six interceptions
Hendon Hooker: 3,565 yards, 32 total touchdowns and two interceptions in two fewer games than Bennett
Pretty obvious which one deserves to be a finalist. Voters got it wrong.
— zach ragan (@zachTNT) December 5, 2022
2016: Lamar Jackson wins the Heisman Trophy
2022: Stetson Bennett is a Heisman finalistThey were both born in 1997.
— Dayne Young (@dayneyoung) December 6, 2022
Congratulations to Stetson Bennett! Great week! Win @SEC & earn at trip to CF Playoffs & a trip to New York as a #HeismanTrophy finalist! @680TheFan pic.twitter.com/pWn8U7NdYR
— buck belue (@buckbelue8) December 6, 2022
Wasn't long ago that Kirby Smart took a ton of heat for the way he handled Georgia's QBs
and yet, without the way all of that worked out
– and Stetson Bennett benefiting from it –
he doesn't have one as a Heisman finalist right now.
wild stuff pic.twitter.com/w5XsCylYhy
— Wes Blankenship (@Wes_nship) December 6, 2022
Stetson Bennett IV wasn't even the second-team All-SEC quarterback.
Love the kid. Inspirational story. But his QB rating was more than 20 points lower than Hendon Hooker's.
Even in an all-time tough year for Heisman voting, him being a finalist is yikes.
— Wes Rucker (@wesrucker247) December 5, 2022
Them: Stetson Bennett IV is a game manager. He never does anything explosive.
HIM: Is 83 yards a lot? I haven’t taken a Math class since I graduated high school six years ago. #HEISMAIV #IV4Heisman pic.twitter.com/FZxCZsitwd
— Andrew Hall (@DudeYouCrazy) December 6, 2022
Hendon Hooker vs Stetson Bennett in 2022
Hooker Bennett
285 Pass Yds/Gm 263.5
27-2 TD-INT 20-6
175.5* Pass Rating 154.6
430 Rush Yds 184
*2nd in nationHOW IS BENNETT A HEISMAN FINALIST OVER HOOKER? pic.twitter.com/AL2gfj9Zi0
— Hard Rock Sportsbook (@HardRockSB) December 6, 2022
Strength of schedule for 2022 Heisman Trophy finalists compared to Hendon Hooker and Bryce Young (ESPN FPI):
Max Duggan (25)
Stetson Bennett (36)
Caleb Williams (38)
C.J. Stroud (39)2022 SEC Offensive Player of the Year Hendon Hooker (8)
2021 Heisman winner Bryce Young (9)— Dan Harralson (@danharralson) December 6, 2022
As a walk on Stetson Bennett accomplished…
A National Championship
A SEC Championship
A Heisman Finalists
2 CFP appearances
What a career so far for a DGD! 👀🐶 pic.twitter.com/YbgVKWrIuo— Chris Figgures (@chrislfiggures) December 5, 2022
