ATHENS — Stetson Bennett’s rise as the quarterback of the national champion Georgia Bulldogs continues off the field.
Bennett has signed a marketing deal with ESM, Dan Everett, president and founder of the agency, confirmed on Sunday. ESM will now work with Bennett to organize and vet his many Name, Image and Likeness (NIL) opportunities.
“With Stetson Bennett’s accomplishments as a champion and his commitment to team and academics, he is the epitome of what the collegiate athlete should be,” Everett said in a statement emailed to The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. “Our partnership will focus on Stetson’s long term brand strategy as well as business opportunities that benefit his community, teammates and ambitions. Also, growing up in South Georgia, I’m personally excited to play a small role in his journey of perseverance and achievement.”
Formerly known as Everett Sports Marketing, ESM also represents former UGA quarterback JT Daniels. Daniels is still a student at Georgia but is seeking a transfer. He remains an ESM client, Everett said.
Bennett could not be reached for comment.
ESM has a lot of Georgia ties. The Greenville, S.C.-based agency also represents current Bulldog Brock Bowers, as well as Nick Chubb, D’Andre Swift and Daniels. It also represents NFL stars Mac Jones, Jonathan Taylor, Jalen Hurts and Sam Howell.
“With Stetson Bennett's accomplishments as a champion and his commitment to team and academics, he is the epitome of what the collegiate athlete should be."
Bennett also gets representation from Atlanta-based attorney Steven Sidman of FisherBroyles.
At this point, Bennett’s rise to stardom is a well-chronicled story. He came to Georgia from Blackshear as a walk-on quarterback out of Pierce County High School in 2017. After earning praise from coaches and teammates for his work on the scout team, Bennett transferred to Jones College in Ellisville, Miss., to play junior college ball in 2018.
In February 2019, Bennett signed a scholarship to return to Georgia and spent the next season as Jake Fromm’s backup. In 2020, Bennett beat out D’Wan Mathis to become the Bulldogs’ starting quarterback.
Bennett started five games that season before a shoulder injury in the Florida game sidelined him. That opened the door for Daniels, who started the final four games of 2020 and opened 2021 as the Bulldogs’ starting quarterback.
After Daniels was injured this past season, Bennett took over at quarterback again. He ended up starting the final 11 games of Georgia’s season, earning offensive MVP honors in the College Football Playoff National Championship against Alabama and the semifinal win over Michigan in the Orange Bowl.
Bennett directed the Bulldogs on two fourth-quarter touchdown drives to secure the come-from-behind 33-18 win over Alabama in the title game Jan. 10 in Indianapolis. He completed 17 of 26 passes for 224 yards in that contest. Bennett finished the season ranked fourth nationally in passing efficiency (176.7), fourth in yards per completion (15.47) and third in yards per pass attempt (9.97). For the season, he finished with 2,862 yards passing and 29 TDs and also was the team’s fifth-leading rusher with 259 yards.
Bennett’s fame skyrocketed after his championship game performance. He appeared on “Good Morning America” the day after and since then has been inundated with NIL offers.
What was uncertain for a time was whether Bennett would return for what is a sixth college football season for him. He announced in late January that he would return to the Bulldogs.
Bennett hinted beforehand that would be the plan.
“I’ve got a decent amount of years,” he said the day after winning the national championship. “Hopefully I live to at least 80, so we’ll say I have 60 years to not play football. I’m going to play football this next year.”
To date, Bennett’s NIL participation has been minimal. In January, he appeared in social media ads for Raising Cane’s chicken franchise and Great Clips.
ESM promises to bring even bigger and better opportunities. Everett predicted a six-figure income for Daniels when he signed with ESM last year. Bennett’s opportunities promise to net him at least as much.
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