Stetson Bennett

Stetson Bennett's Biography

Stetson Fleming Bennett IV was born on October 28, 1997, to parents Denise and Stetson Bennett III in Atlanta, Georgia. He comes from a lineage of football players, with his grandfather Buddy Bennett having played quarterback for the South Carolina Gamecocks from 1958 to 1960. Stetson Bennett IV’s early life was replete with constant movement. His family relocated from Atlanta to Nahunta, Georgia when he was in first grade. Then, in eighth grade, they moved again, this time to Blackshear, Georgia. It was here that Bennett’s life began to revolve around the football field as he played at Pierce County High School.

At Pierce County High School, Bennett’s precocious talent for the game began to flourish. He led the school to three consecutive state playoff appearances, and during his senior year, he threw for 3,724 yards and ran for 500 more yards, racking up 40 total touchdowns. However, despite his impressive high school records, Bennett’s prospects for a promising career in football seemed bleak. He was evaluated as a two-star quarterback coming out of high school, and his only offer for an FBS scholarship came from Middle Tennessee State.

At this point, Bennett decided to take his destiny into his own hands. He was a walk-on at Georgia in his freshman season in 2017 but did not get a chance to play. He then transferred to Jones College where he showed what he was truly capable of. He played in 12 games and threw for 16 touchdowns and 1,840 yards in his sophomore season.

A turn of events saw Bennett return to Georgia where he won the praises of many, landing him a scholarship offer. He went from being the second-string quarterback to Jake Fromm’s backup in 2019 as a junior, where he had two touchdowns and one interception on the season besides one rushing touchdown. Subsequently, Bennett had to start the 2020 season as a backup to D’Wan Mathis. He became the starter after Mathis’s poor performance, but was soon replaced by USC transfer JT Daniels.

Despite this setback, Bennett continued to pour his heart into the game. He was named the starting quarterback for the 2021 season after Daniels suffered an oblique injury. In that season, Bennett threw for 29 touchdowns and had only seven interceptions leading the Bulldogs to a 12-0 record. He led Georgia to consecutive national championships in 2021 and 2022.

However, the pinnacle of Bennett’s college football career was yet to come. He was named a finalist for the Heisman Trophy in 2022 and led Georgia to a historic bout with the TCU Horned Frogs in the 2023 College Football Playoff National Championship. The Bulldogs defeated the Frogs 65-7, landing Bennett the Offensive MVP title, and etching his name into history for leading Georgia to the largest margin of victory in any bowl game.

Bennett was subsequently snapped up by the Los Angeles Rams in the fourth round, 128th overall, in the 2023 NFL draft. He was placed on the reserve/non-football illness list shortly after. Despite a few setbacks, Bennett’s journey from a walk-on, through being overlooked, to leading Georgia to national victories and joining the Los Angeles Rams in the NFL, is one of sheer grit, determination, and a non-defeatist attitude.