For the first time in the history of their program, the Georgia Bulldogs will have a quarterback represent them at the Heisman ceremony as a finalist. From walk-on to superstar, the strides Stetson Bennett has made in his final season in Athens have been tremendous, leading his team to a perfect season and the #1 overall ranking, a place the Bulldogs have become familiar with since Bennett took the reigns as the starting quarterback.
However, his selection as a finalist didn’t come without controversy, as it meant that Tennessee’s sensational quarterback Hendon Hooker would not be heading to New York for the ceremony, which understandably had the Volunteer faithful irate. Many national pundits didn’t agree with the decision either.
Hendon Hooker not being a Heisman finalist tells you everything you need to know about the process
— Josh Pate (@LateKickJosh) December 6, 2022
In all honesty, Hooker deserves to be in New York. He was the best player in College Football for three-quarters of the year; had he not gotten injured at the end of the year, he would probably have been invited.
With that being said, that doesn’t mean Bennett doesn’t deserve it. He was the best player on the best team in the country. He put up great numbers, and while they might not have been as flashy as Hooker’s, it’s because that’s not what Georgia needed. Most of the time, Bennett was handing the ball off in the second half to chew the clock with a 20+ point lead. If Kirby Smart had let him, Bennett could have thrown for 4,000 yards and 30 touchdowns.
Bennett has transformed from a game manager to a game-changer for the Bulldogs, and as always, he’s a tremendous leader. So, when he was asked about Hooker not being a Heisman finalist, he, of course, had the perfect response.
“I don’t think it’s fair to Hendon. He’s a great player. I don’t think it should be spoke of in that light. I think he should be getting respect for the year that he had and not what could have been but what wasn’t,” Bennett said, via Saturday Down South. “As far as me getting hate for it, it doesn’t bother me really. I didn’t make that call.”
If you had asked me a month ago who should have won the Heisman, I would have said Hendon Hooker. He deserves to be recognized with the rest of the finalists, but there’s no need to take away from what Stetson Bennett has done this year. He’s been as good as anyone in the country. Bennett, and the rest of Bulldog nation, deserve this moment as well.
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Photo: Rich von Biberstein/Icon Sportswire
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