ATHENS – Pierce County High football coach Ryan Herring had his quip fired up and ready when the question came.
Luke Bennett, one of his top players the past two seasons, committed to the Georgia Bulldogs on Thursday as a preferred walk-on receiver. Asked how he thought Bennett might do at UGA, Herring answered, “Well, he’s going to know the quarterback well, I know that. They should have a good relationship.”
Indeed. Luke Bennett is the younger brother of Georgia quarterback Stetson Bennett. He and his twin brother Knox are six years younger, in fact, so the possibility of playing with his older brother really hadn’t occurred to Luke until Stetson decided to utilize a sixth season of eligibility to play another season with the Bulldogs.
“Me, Knox, and Stet have always run routes in the yard, always played one-on-one,” Luke told ESPNCoastal.com. “Stetson was always all-time QB. So, from a young age, it was always us two out in the front yard (with him). He had to have somebody to throw to; me and Knox were those guys.”
They’ll be able play catch again in June when Luke enrolls in summer school.
Like his older brother, Luke grew up in Blackshear as a lifelong Georgia fan. And, of course, he has attended almost every game the past four seasons as Stetson played quarterback for the Bulldogs. He celebrated Georgia’s national championship win over Alabama with Stetson in Indianapolis in January.
But other than an invitation to Wyoming’s prospect camp -- which he took -- Luke hadn’t entertained many Division I offers. Had Georgia not come forth with an early-February offer as a preferred walk-on, Luke was considering possible opportunities at Georgia Southern and from FCS programs like The Citadel and New Hampshire.
But don’t sell the 5-foot-10, 175-pound Luke Bennett short. Herring believes he could earn some playing time at UGA eventually.
“If he goes up there and works hard and sticks with it, he might be able to play someday,” Herring said. “He’s got great linear speed. He puts up 4.5′s for us all the time, 40-wise. I think it’ll just be a matter of getting used to that speed, because that’s another whole speed up there in Athens. He’ll have to keep working.”
The hope is that Knox Bennett eventually will be able to join the brothers in Athens. The tallest of the Bennett boys at 6-2, Knox is concentrating on his baseball career. He, too, hopes to end up wearing a Georgia uniform. But, for now, he’s planning to play junior college baseball at Chipola College in Florida.
As for Luke, he had an extremely productive football career at Pierce County, where he and Knox helped lead the Bears to the Class AA state championship in 2020. Luke was named first-team All-Region this past season. Pierce County went 48-6 during his four seasons playing varsity football.
Playing in a run-heavy offense which required a lot of blocking and running the football on flanker counters, Luke finished his high school career with 709 receiving yards and eight touchdowns on 34 catches and 31 rushes for 166 yards and five TDs. He also played defense.
At Georgia, Luke Bennett is expected to be an inside receiver.
“He’ll have to pay his dues and do his time,” Herring said. “But with attrition and people leaving early, you know, anything can happen.”
Stetson Bennett has proved that.
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