Stetson Bennett is number nineteen on Matt Hinton’s list of college football’s top 25 quarterbacks. That’s certainly a reasonable assessment. On top of that, Matt’s take on Stetson is the fairest I’ve read to date.
But the focus on Bennett’s Rudy-esque backstory and stature tends to obscure the fact that, adjusted for volume, he was easily one of the most productive passers in the country. The numbers are legit: He ended the season ranked No. 4 nationally in pass efficiency, No. 3 in yards per attempt and No. 3 in Total QBR, behind only CJ Stroud and Bryce Young. His overall passer rating (176.7) set the UGA record. He threw for multiple touchdowns in 9 of his 11 starts, including all 3 games in the postseason. And while he had quite a few conservative outings that limited his attempts, he didn’t have anything approaching a truly bad one. His worst rating of the season per QBR came in a 56-7 romp over Charleston Southern. Against everyone else, he came in well above the Mendoza line, week-in, week-out, despite dealing with a depleted wide receiver rotation that remained in flux all year.
More importantly for Georgia’s championship-or-bust goals, he didn’t regress into a shell in the biggest games. On the contrary: Factoring in the competition and the stakes, Bennett’s 313-yard, 3-touchdown performance in the Bulldogs’ Orange Bowl Playoff semifinal win over Michigan was the best of his career — the first time he’d looked convincingly up to the task against a championship-caliber defense. And the go-ahead touchdown drive in the fourth quarter of the CFP Championship Game against Alabama was another answer to a longstanding question: What happens when the scoreboard forces Bennett to make plays with his arm and the defense knows it?
Questions asked, questions answered. At least you would think so.
It might be an exaggeration to insist that you must have a first-round, Heisman-caliber quarterback to win it all in the spread-passing era. But you do still need a guy who can step up and hit the mark when the situation demands it. If nothing else, no one can ever argue that Bennett isn’t capable of being that guy again.
Oh, yes they can, Matt.
Get The Picture 
#HonkyForHeisman
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I think the average fan and even the most educated fans that support other teams are going to be shocked at just how good Georgia’s offense is going to be this year. And I’m going to enjoy watching the meltdowns as they take apart team after team from the other side of the ball.
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SB IV will have 40 TDs………
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I hope he doesn’t have to throw that many.
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Good point, but I hope he does just because Kirby wants to smoke some Gators, Nerds, and Vols.
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“…no one can ever argue that Bennett isn’t capable of being that guy again.”
FTMF!!!!!!!!!!
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Keep doubting him. Please keep doing that!
I think our offense it going to be really good this year. Very excited to see what Monken will cook up.
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Yes, thanks for bringing that up, how many times last year did we hear similar questions of, “So, what’s UGA gonna look like when they’re behind in the 4th qtr and Bennett has to be a real QB and lead em back to win?!” You’d think what you pointed out happened would’ve shut them up, but no, haters are gonna hate, and so-called expert pundits are gonna have shallow click-bait takes with only a few welcomed exceptions.
So, I’m like others here, keep the anti-rat poison coming. Meanwhile, Stet is older than dirt mentally in terms of CFB player maturity, he’s getting QB1 reps for the first time, he’s earned the “been there done that in the face of adversity” confidence, he’s got a unicorn TE room and very capable WRs, and he’s guided by one of the best OCs in CFB.
Can’t wait.
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What a difference one year and a NC make.
I hope the Mailman never loses that I’ll prove everyone wrong attitude.
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That’s a pretty funny entry title, I’ll end up using that a time or two.
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My only problem with the list is where he has Spencer Rattler ranked in comparison.
It’s fracking ridiculous.
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What happens when the scoreboard forces Bennett to make plays with his arm and the defense knows it?
Well even when we had Fromm we weren’t good at that. I know different OCs and all that, but we aren’t an Air Raid team.
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I’m perplexed…not used to seeing press like this about our mailman…gonna need another cup of Joe…first objective/honest take I’ve read on him outside our homer press…I think I like this journalism shit
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Be careful, now frozen,
I think it’s clickbait for bullDAWGS!!
But….
ole Matt may be thinking that liars may figure, but figures (stats) don’t lie.
Also ole Matt may be looking at the “journalism” universe and see that these are not bright people and they all are going with the current on the same narrative that DGD Stet can’t lead a comeback victory.
ole Matt MAY think, hell if I drown in this river of incompetence, they may have to look for my body UPSTREAM!!
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StARt JT dANiEls!!!!
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After saying all that Matt still only has him #19 out of 25. I have doubted Stetson in the past, and I think that there probably are more gifted quarterbacks in college, but stats don’t lie. Unless you are ranking QBs, I guess.
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But he doesn’t pass the eye test! He looks like a goober! And he blinks too much! So he can’t be one of the best!
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