ATHENS — Georgia quarterback Stetson Bennett trotted out for the offense’s first series in Saturday’s top-10 tilt with Arkansas at Sanford Stadium.
Coach Kirby Smart confirmed before kickoff Saturday that Bennett would start against the No. 8 Razorbacks.
Georgia’s usual starter JT Daniels faced another injury issue, and it was tabbed as a “game-time decision” on who would start for the Bulldogs. Coach Kirby Smart revealed Wednesday on a teleconference that Daniels was “dealing with a bit of a lat issue,” which refers to the latissimus dorsi, a major back muscle.
In warmups before facing No. 8 Arkansas, Bennett took snaps behind starting center Sedrick Van Pran-Granger. Daniels took snaps with Jamaree Salyer, who only plays offensive tackle and guard. In throwing drills, Bennett actively participated while Daniels stood beside him while holding his helmet. At that moment, all signs indicated Bennett would start.
Smart told ESPN’s “College GameDay” Saturday morning that it would “come down to warmups,” and the pivot to Bennett indicated that Daniels wasn’t healthy enough to take all of Georgia’s snaps. Daniels has been injury prone throughout the 2021 season. An oblique injury, which happened before the season-opening win over Clemson, caused Daniels to miss the game against Alabama-Birmingham and put his status in doubt the following week against South Carolina.
Since the second week of the season, Bennett has appeared in each game. He played a single series against the Gamecocks and threw an interception, but followed it up with two quarters of play the following weekend in the blowout at Vanderbilt.
“I’ve said it all along. I’ll continue to say it and stand by it,” Smart said Sept. 18. " I have a lot of confidence in the quarterbacks. I can’t say I’ve ever had as much confidence in three or four guys. Stetson has earned the right (to get playing opportunities).”
Daniels felt confident in his health after returning from the oblique injury. He credited the Bulldogs’ training staff, led by sports medicine director Ron Courson, and believed that the injury bug wouldn’t bite him again due to the focus on treatment. After one injury faded, however, another immediately arose.
Even when Georgia feels as if it had the quarterback position settled, more drama surrounds the position.
Bennett, in his three games of action, has thrown for 443 yards, seven touchdowns and two interceptions. His season line includes a 288-yard, five-touchdown performance against Alabama-Birmingham, where his quarterback rating topped 750.
Last season, in Georgia’s 37-10 win over Arkansas in Fayetteville, Bennett entered in the second quarter in favor of then-starter D’Wan Mathis. Bennett threw for 211 yards and two touchdowns, which allowed him to hold the starting position for the following four games.
“It’s amazing, the quarterback room we have,” Daniels said Sept. 18. “A lot of people see the quarterback as the premier position and that you can play only one guy. We have four really team-oriented guys. I let coach make the decisions, and it doesn’t even cross my mind. It’s a room that’s more concerned with winning than who is getting the shine.”
About the Author
