Aug 12, 2023; Inglewood, California, USA; Los Angeles Rams quarterback Stetson Bennett (13) throws the ball in the second half against the Los Angeles Chargers at SoFi Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

QB Stetson Bennett set to join Rams for offseason workouts

Quarterback Stetson Bennett will join the Los Angeles Rams for offseason workouts, general manager Les Snead said Monday.

The Rams selected Bennett, who led Georgia to two national championships, in the fourth round of the 2023 draft. He left the team in the preseason and spent the season on the reserve/non-football illness list.

Last month, coach Sean McVay said the Rams would reach out to Bennett, 26, “at the appropriate time” to see if they were a good fit.

“Those will be conversations that we will have. And then I think once we have a better idea of what we’ll do with that, then that will give clarity.”

Neither Bennett nor McVay ever disclosed why Bennett left the team, with the coach only saying the issue was “bigger than” football.

Matthew Stafford is entrenched as the Rams starting quarterback, and the team signed veteran Jimmy Garoppolo as his backup earlier this month.

–Field Level Media

Aug 12, 2023; Inglewood, California, USA;   Los Angeles Rams coach Sean McVay congratulates quarterback Stetson Bennett (13) after a touchdown in the second half against the Los Angeles Chargers at SoFi Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports

Stetson Bennett, first-round pick both question marks for Rams

As the Los Angeles Rams prepare to enter the new league year in March, one of their biggest question marks is at the quarterback position.

Matthew Stafford and then who?

The 36-year-old Stafford will be the only quarterback on the roster come March 14 as the Rams churned through backups last season.

Stetson Bennett, a two-time national champion at Georgia, was taken in the fourth round of the 2023 draft to back up Stafford and potentially learn under the veteran as the heir apparent. Bennett left the team in the preseason for a reason that remains undisclosed, and the Rams then turned to Brett Rypien and later Carson Wentz as the understudy.

Rypien was released in November and Wentz will become an unrestricted free agent.

Coach Sean McVay said Thursday that the Rams will reach out to Bennett, 26, “at the appropriate time.”

McVay, in a video conference call with reporters, said it remains to be seen whether club and quarterback will be a good fit.

“And you figure out, ‘All right, where are you at? And is this something we feel like is best for him and our football team to bring him back into this ecosystem?’”

McVay continued: “Those will be conversations that we will have. And then I think once we have a better idea of what we’ll do with that, then that will give clarity.”

Bennett was placed on the non-football injury/illness list last September. At the time, McVay said the move was unrelated to a minor shoulder injury the quarterback experienced. McVay said he couldn’t share specifics, but said the issue was “bigger than” football.

“Out of respect for him and the situation, I’m going to leave all the specifics and particulars in-house,” McVay said then. “And I want to be able to do that out of respect for that situation, so I’m not going to really have any follow-up information or anything that I’ll give in that regards.

“I really hope that you can please respect my wishes in regards to keeping that in-house. I understand you have a job to do, but there are certain things that I think are a little bigger and a little more important. And out of respect for the particulars and the specifics, we want to keep it in-house, and that’s where I want to leave it please.”

Bennett played well in the preseason but faced questions about his maturity and readiness for the NFL during the pre-draft process following an arrest for public intoxication, despite his advanced age for a rookie.

Stafford, the No. 1 pick out of Georgia in 2009 by the Detroit Lions, won the Super Bowl in his first season with the Rams after Los Angeles sent Jared Goff, two first-round picks and a third-round pick to the Lions for Stafford on March 18, 2021.

The Rams never have made a first-round pick in the Sean McVay era and have the No. 19 selection in April’s draft. Will they use it on a quarterback?

McVay hinted Thursday the Rams could trade out of the first-round spot again.

“Oh, that’s a big if,” he said when asked about making a pick in the round.

–Field Level Media

Aug 26, 2023; Denver, Colorado, USA; Los Angeles Rams quarterback Stetson Bennett (13) looks to pass in the first quarter against the Denver Broncos at Empower Field at Mile High. Mandatory Credit: Isaiah J. Downing-USA TODAY Sports

Rams move QB Stetson Bennett to reserve/NFI list

The Los Angeles Rams moved rookie backup quarterback Stetson Bennett to the reserve/non-football injury list on Wednesday, though coach Sean McVay would not provide further information.

Bennett, who led Georgia to back-to-back national championships, missed the Week 1 win at Seattle with a shoulder injury. McVay said Wednesday’s move is not related to the shoulder issue but repeatedly declined to address the matter, choosing to keep details in the building, he told reporters.

Because of the placement on the NFI list, he must miss at least four games.

Starter Matthew Stafford now is the only quarterback on the 53-man roster. Veteran backup Brett Rypien could be elevated from the practice squad.

The Rams selected Bennett, 25, at No. 128 overall in the fourth round of the NFL draft in April.

Bennett led the Georgia offense to a combined 29-1 record over the past two seasons.

He threw for a Georgia-record 4,127 yards, 27 touchdowns and seven interceptions in 2022, added 10 rushing touchdowns and finished fourth in Heisman Trophy voting. In four seasons at Georgia, he racked up 8,428 passing yards and 66 touchdowns with 21 interceptions.

Three weeks after the national title game in January, Bennett was arrested in Dallas on charges of public intoxication after residents complained he was banging on front doors in a neighborhood at 6 a.m.

The Rams signed Bennett to a four-year, $4.5 million deal. Only his $699,140 signing bonus is guaranteed.

–Field Level Media

Nov 19, 2022; Lexington, Kentucky, USA; Georgia Bulldogs defensive back Kelee Ringo (5) intercepts a pass during the second quarter against the Kentucky Wildcats at Kroger Field. Mandatory Credit: Jordan Prather-USA TODAY Sports

Eagles continue tapping Georgia pipeline on final day of NFL draft

The Philadelphia Eagles added former Georgia Bulldogs on both sides of the ball as the final day of the 2023 NFL Draft commenced Saturday in Kansas City, Mo.

Before the start of the fourth round, the Eagles traded up into the third pick of the day, No. 105 overall, by dealing a 2024 third-rounder to the Houston Texans. The Eagles used that selection on cornerback Kelee Ringo, the fifth Georgia defender they’ve drafted in two years.

The NFC champions later agreed to a trade to acquire Detroit Lions running back D’Andre Swift, who projects as their new first-string running back after the departure of Miles Sanders in free agency. Swift is a Philadelphia native and also played collegiately at Georgia.

“He’s got big-play ability as a runner and receiver,” Eagles general manager Howie Roseman said in an interview on the ESPN broadcast. “We saw it first-hand when we were in Detroit first game of the season. … We liked our running backs. We didn’t go into the draft feeling like this was a position we had to have. But we felt like this player was somebody who could really add to our culture and add to our team.

“And I’m sure I’m out of the Florida alumni association as we speak.”

On Thursday, the Eagles drafted Georgia defensive tackle Jalen Carter No. 9 overall and Bulldogs pass-rusher Nolan Smith at No. 30. Philadelphia also spent first- and third-round picks in the 2022 draft on Georgia defensive tackle Jordan Davis and linebacker Nakobe Dean.

Ringo had four interceptions in 30 career games over two seasons at Georgia, which fielded a record-setting defense in 2021 and dominated on that side of the ball again in 2022 en route to two straight national titles. The Bulldogs led FBS with 77.1 rushing yards allowed per game and ranked fifth in scoring defense at 14.3 ppg.

Swift, 24, is entering the final year of his rookie contract after three seasons with the Lions. In 40 career games (16 starts), Swift rushed for 1,680 yards (4.6 per attempt) and 18 touchdowns. But the Lions used a first-round pick Thursday on Alabama running back Jahmyr Gibbs, signaling their interest in moving on from Swift.

The Eagles dealt a seventh-round pick (No. 219) and a 2025 fourth-rounder to land Swift and Detroit’s seventh-rounder (No. 249), according to multiple reports.

Three quarterbacks went in the fourth round, bringing the total to eight quarterbacks over the first four rounds of the seven-round draft.

The New Orleans Saints traded up with the Jacksonville Jaguars to No. 127 overall and selected quarterback Jake Haener from Fresno State. Haener was the Senior Bowl MVP and is the first Fresno State quarterback to be drafted since Derek Carr — whom the Saints signed as a free agent in March to be their new starter.

With the very next pick, the Los Angeles Rams drafted Georgia quarterback Stetson Bennett, who started for the Bulldogs in each of the past two seasons and helped them win back-to-back titles. Bennett threw for 4,128 yards, 27 touchdowns and seven interceptions in 2022, added 10 rushing touchdowns and finished fourth in Heisman Trophy voting.

With the last pick in the fourth round, the Las Vegas Raiders chose Purdue quarterback Aidan O’Connell. The Raiders signed Jimmy Garoppolo as their presumptive starting quarterback this offseason after parting ways with Carr.

The New England Patriots used an early fourth-rounder on Troy center Jake Andrews, then traded up with their division rival New York Jets to No. 112 overall to pick Maryland kicker Chad Ryland. He was the second kicker picked in this draft after the San Francisco 49ers used a late third-rounder on Michigan’s Jake Moody.

–Field Level Media

Georgia quarterback Stetson Bennett (13) throws a pass during the second half of the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl NCAA College Football Playoff semifinal game between Ohio State and Georgia on Saturday, Dec 31, 2022, in Atlanta. Georgia won 42-41.

News Joshua L Jones

Syndication Online Athens

Rams draft ex-Georgia QB Stetson Bennett in fourth round

The Los Angeles Rams selected two-time national champion quarterback Stetson Bennett at No. 128 overall in the fourth round of the NFL draft on Saturday.

Bennett led the Georgia offense in each of the past two seasons, when the Bulldogs went a combined 29-1 and won the 2021 and 2022 College Football Playoff national titles.

Bennett threw for a Georgia record 4,127 yards, 27 touchdowns and seven interceptions in 2022, added 10 rushing touchdowns and finished fourth in Heisman Trophy voting. In four seasons at Georgia, he racked up 8,428 passing yards and 66 touchdowns with 21 interceptions.

Three weeks after the national title game in January, Bennett was arrested in Dallas on charges of public intoxication after residents complained he was banging on front doors in a neighborhood at 6 a.m.

He enters the NFL with some other question marks, too. He is not the ideal height of an NFL quarterback, measuring 5-foot-11 at the scouting combine, and at 25, he will be an older NFL rookie.

Entering the draft, the Rams had only 35-year-old Matthew Stafford on the QB depth chart. Stafford is a fellow former Georgia quarterback.

Stafford is coming off a season-ending injury, a spinal cord contusion that caused him to miss the final seven games, as Los Angeles missed the playoffs one year after winning the Super Bowl.

Bennett was the seventh quarterback selected in the 2023 draft, going one pick after the New Orleans traded up to No. 127 to tab ex-Fresno State quarterback Jake Haener.

The Las Vegas Raiders closed the fourth round by selecting Aidan O’Connell, the starting quarterback at Purdue the past two seasons.

Two more quarterbacks were taken within the first five picks in the fifth round. The Arizona Cardinals grabbed Clayton Tune, who played at Houston, and the Cleveland Browns selected Dorian Thompson-Robinson, who threw for 10,710 yards in five seasons at UCLA.

–Field Level Media

Jan 9, 2023; Inglewood, CA, USA; Georgia Bulldogs quarterback Stetson Bennett (13) celebrates with the championship trophy after defeating the TCU Horned Frogs during the CFP national championship game at SoFi Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

Georgia’s Stetson Bennett arrested for public intoxication

Georgia quarterback Stetson Bennett was arrested early Sunday on a charge of public intoxication in Dallas.

Dallas police confirmed that the two-time defending national champion was arrested at about 6 a.m. local time after officers responded to a man banging on doors in the Old East Dallas section of the city.

Officers found Bennett at the scene “and determined he was intoxicated,” according to a police press release.

Bennett, 25, was arrested and taken to a city detention center. Details about his release were not available.

University of Georgia officials have not responded to a request for comment made by Dallas TV station WFAA.

As a senior in 2022, Bennett went 15-0 and passed for 4,127 yards with 27 touchdowns and seven interceptions.

On Jan. 9, Bennett’s Bulldogs pounded TCU 65-7 to claim their second straight CFP national championship.

He finished fourth in the Heisman Trophy voting. Earlier this week, ESPN draft analyst Mel Kiper Jr. projected him as a third-round pick in the April 27-29 NFL Draft.

–Field Level Media

Dec 10, 2022; New York, NY, USA; Southern California quarterback Caleb Williams speaks to the media during a press conference in the Astor Ballroom at the New York Marriott Marquis in New York, NY, before the 2022 Heisman Trophy award ceremony. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports

USC QB Caleb Williams wins 2022 Heisman Trophy

Southern California quarterback Caleb Williams was named the 2022 winner of the Heisman Trophy in New York Saturday night.

The 88th winner in the award’s history earning 544 first-place votes, Williams threw for 4,075 yards with 37 touchdowns for the 11-2 Trojans. He also rushed for 372 yards and 10 touchdowns, throwing just four interceptions as the Trojans went 8-1 in the Pac-12.

Williams and USC will face Tulane in the Cotton Bowl on Jan. 2.

“This is really awesome to be up here,” Williams said. “To now be a part of this historic fraternity is truly an honor and something I will cherish for the rest of my life.”

The four finalists, all named Monday, were all quarterbacks: Georgia’s Stetson Bennett, TCU’s Max Duggan, Ohio State’s C.J. Stroud and Williams.

Williams entered the evening as the runaway favorite for the award, despite being the only finalist to miss the College Football Playoff.

“Guess you can’t win them all,” Williams quipped.

Still, all four finalists led their respective teams to a current top-10 ranking, with Williams emerging as a frontrunner due to his propensity for electric plays.

In his acceptance speech, Williams made a point to thank each of his individual offensive linemen, who were all in attendance at the ceremony.

“It is important to surround yourself with a good team, and good people you can trust,” he said, as he also thanked family and former coaches and teammates.

Williams had 2,031 total points in winning the award. Finishing second in the voting was Duggan, who nabbed 1,420 points.

Duggan, who began the year as a backup, helped lead No. 3 TCU to a perfect regular-season record and a berth in the CFP, throwing for 3,321 yards with 30 touchdowns against four interceptions. He also memorably led the Horned Frogs back against Kansas State fighting through exhaustion in an eventual overtime loss in the Big 12 championship game.

Stroud, who finished third with 539 points, entered the season as the favorite for the award. He helped the No. 4 Buckeyes make the Playoff by throwing for 3,340 yards with 37 touchdowns against just six picks.

Finishing fourth was Bennett (349 points), who leads the top-ranked Georgia Bulldogs (13-0, 8-0 Southeastern Conference). He’ll look to grab a second straight national title after throwing for 3,425 yards and 20 TDs.

Ohio State (11-1, 8-1 Big Ten) will face Georgia in the Peach Bowl Dec. 31 to determine who secures a spot in the CFP title game.

TCU (12-1, 9-0 Big 12) will face No. 2 Michigan on Dec. 31 in the other CFP semifinal.

The rest of the top ten vote-getters included Tennessee quarterback Hendon Hooker, Alabama quarterback Bryce Young, Michigan running back Blake Corum, Washington quarterback Michael Penix Jr., Texas running back Bijan Robinson and North Carolina quarterback Drake Maye.

–Field Level Media

Dec 2, 2022; Las Vegas, NV, USA; Southern California Trojans quarterback Caleb Williams (13) throws against the Utah Utes during the second half in the PAC-12 Football Championship at Allegiant Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports

C.J. Stroud, Caleb Williams among four QBs named Heisman finalists

Georgia’s Stetson Bennett, TCU’s Max Duggan, Ohio State’s C.J. Stroud and Southern California’s Caleb Williams were named finalists for the Heisman Trophy on Monday.

The winner will be announced Saturday in New York.

All four quarterbacks led their respective teams to a top-10 ranking this season, and Bennett, Duggan and Stroud will be playing in the College Football Playoff.

Williams, the only finalist to miss the CFP, is the favorite to take home the award after throwing for 4,075 yards with 37 touchdowns and four interceptions. He also rushed for 372 yards and 10 TDs as the No. 10 Trojans went 11-2 (8-1 Pac-12). USC will face Tulane in the Cotton Bowl on Jan. 2.

The top-ranked Bulldogs (13-0, 8-0 Southeastern Conference) will look to claim back-to-back national championships behind Bennett, who threw for 3,425 yards, 20 TDs and six interceptions.

After entering the season as the favorite to win the Heisman, Stroud finished with 3,340 passing yards with 37 touchdowns against six interceptions. The No. 4 Buckeyes (11-1, 8-1 Big Ten) will face Georgia in the Peach Bowl Dec. 31 to determine who secures a spot in the CFP title game.

Duggan helped No. 3 TCU exceed expectations, as the Horned Frogs went 12-1 with a perfect 9-0 record in Big 12 play before losing in the Big 12 championship game. Duggan threw for 3,321 yards, 30 TDs and four interceptions. He also found the end zone six times on the ground.

The Frogs face No. 2 Michigan on Dec. 31 in the other CFP semifinal.

Notable players who weren’t invited to New York included Alabama quarterback Bryce Young, who was gunning for his second straight Heisman, and Tennessee quarterback Hendon Hooker, who led the Volunteers to a brief stay at No. 1 in the CFP rankings but saw his dynamic season cut short in November when he tore his ACL.

–Field Level Media

Georgia quarterback Stetson Bennett (13) kisses the trophy after winning the College Football Playoff National Championship on Jan. 10 at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis.

jump

Stetson Bennett’s brother to walk on at Georgia

Stetson Bennett IV went from a walk-on at Georgia to a national championship winner.

His younger brother, Luke, hopes to do the same.

Luke Bennett announced Thursday that he’s walking on at Georgia, committing to the Class of 2022.

He posted to Twitter: “Excited to officially be a part of the @ugafootballwalkons family #committedtotheg #GoDawgs”

He is a 5-foot-11, 175-pound wide receiver/running back who played at Pierce County High School in Blackshear, Ga. He had three receiving touchdowns and five rushing touchdowns in his senior season, per 247Sports.

In February, the Bulldogs coaching staff offered him a spot as a preferred walk-on.

Stetson Bennett joined Georgia as a walk-on in 2017, then transferred to a community college for the 2018 season. He returned to Georgia in 2019 and last season, led the Bulldogs to victory in the College Football Playoff championship game against Alabama.

The quarterback is using his added year of eligibility and returning for the 2022 season, and he seemed excited Thursday to have his brother as a teammate.

“So proud of you buddy – LETS GO!!!,” Stetson Bennett tweeted.

–Field Level Media

Jan 10, 2022; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Georgia Bulldogs quarterback Stetson Bennett (13) celebrates after the Georgia Bulldogs beat the Alabama Crimson Tide in the 2022 CFP college football national championship game at Lucas Oil Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

Former walk-on QB Stetson Bennett takes Georgia to title

The “other” quarterback emerged victorious Monday night in the College Football Playoff championship game.

Georgia’s Stetson Bennett, overshadowed by Heisman Trophy winner Bryce Young of Alabama in the leadup to the national-title game, guided his team to a 33-18 victory in Indianapolis and captured Offensive Player of the Game honors.

With 10 minutes remaining and the Bulldogs down by five points, Bennett orchestrated consecutive scoring drives, punctuating both with touchdown passes. The former walk-on completed 17 of 26 passes for 224 yards with the two scores and no interceptions.

Bennett’s 40-yard TD connection with Adonai Mitchell on a free play put Georgia on top 19-18 with 8:09 to go, finishing a four-play, 75-yard drive.

Bennett subsequently guided Georgia 62 yards on seven plays, with his 15-yard pass to Brock Bowers making the score 26-18 with 3:33 to go. The Bulldogs then sealed their first national championship since 1980 on Kelee Ringo’s 79-yard interception return for a touchdown.

The winning drives came after Bennett lost a fumble that led to a go-ahead Alabama touchdown.

“I just knew there was going to be no way we were going to let a turnover like that stop us from winning a national championship,” Bennett said postgame on ESPN. “There was no way. I wasn’t going to let that happen. I wasn’t going to be the reason we lost.”

Asked why he remained at Georgia despite the program looking for his potential replacement, Bennett said he stayed “because I love this place, I love this team, I believe in myself. I think I’m the best quarterback. I just love everything about this place, and I wanted to win a national championship here.”

Bennett shed tears near the end of the game with the Bulldogs’ championship ensured.

“It just hit me,” he said. “I didn’t even watch Kelee score, I thought he went down right when he caught it because as soon as he caught it, I just teared up. Wasn’t planning on it. … Wow.”

Georgia defensive back Lewis Cine was selected the Defensive Player of the Game.

–Field Level Media