ATHENS — Georgia legend David Pollack wants to see more of Bulldogs’ fifth-year quarterback Stetson Bennett regardless of JT Daniels’ status for the South Carolina game.

“He’s a 4.5 guy,” Pollack said, referring to Bennett’s speed in the 40-yard dash. “So, I think I’m still going to give this kid some reps, man.”

Kirby Smart has not disclosed who the No. 2-ranked Bulldogs will start at quarterback in the 7 p.m. game against South Carolina on Saturday night in Sanford Stadium.

“The biggest question is how does he practice,” Smart said, asked about Daniels’ status. “It’s not about whether (how important it is that) he plays.

“Is he healthy to go out there and be 100 percent in practice so he has an opportunity to be as effective as he can? That’s a big rehab question.”

Pollack said Smart should play both Daniels and Bennett, provided Daniels has overcome the strained oblique that sidelined him last Saturday.

“I’d give both of them reps, but Stetson Bennett… he’s proved to me that I can win with him,” Pollack said. “The Florida game, last year before Georgia lost, they were up 14-0 before he got hurt.”

Bennett was 3-2 as the Bulldogs’ starter last season, beating Auburn, Tennessee and Kentucky, with losses to Alabama and the Gators after suffering a strained AC joint.

“Stetson Bennett did a heck of a job a year ago for this team,” Pollack said. “Did anybody else have a lead in the third quarter against Alabama? Did anybody else in the country do that?

“Because he wasn’t a highly recruited kid, a lot of people pointed to him and were like, ‘Ah, he’s not that good,’ " he said. “Great mobility. When Georgia needs a spark on offense, this guy can give it to them, man. He’s got something about him that you need.”

The Bennett UGA fans saw last Saturday was an improved version, as he apparently learned from Daniels how to put more air under his deep ball, making him that much more effective.

Bennett was 10-of-12 passing for 288 yards and 5 touchdowns taking less than half the snaps in the 56-7 win over UAB last Saturday.

Smart said Bennett was dealing with a strained back in practice earlier this week, but the condition was not believed to be serious enough to prevent him from playing.