Georgia QB Stetson Bennett in control of Scrimmage Two, elevates pass game

Georgia quarterback Stetson Bennett had another strong outing in the Bulldogs’ second scrimmage of the spring on Saturday at Sanford Stadium.

Bennett, a 24-year-old, sixth-year senior, had the sort of veteran presence once might expect according to those who had a chance to watch scrimmage.

It was more of what Coach Kirby Smart envisioned when he spoke with Bennett about returning for another season following the 33-18 CFP Championship win over Alabama.

Ladd McConkey also had a nice touchdown reception from Bennett, and Dominick Blaylock continued his comeback from injury with a touchdown reception.

It has been a great spring for McConkey, who has the look of a future team captain as well as a rising star on the field.

“He is much more confident, he makes a lot of plays, he made a lot of plays in the scrimmage the other day,” Smart said last week. “He is tough. He is elusive. He plays really hard. He is what you want in your program. Every play he gives you everything he’s got.”

Carson Beck and Brock Vandagriff continue to compete for the No. 2 quarterback job in a race that looks to be tightening up heading into the G-Day Game at 1 p.m. next Saturday.

The Georgia offense has definitely been building momentum this spring, in part because the quarterbacks can’t be hit and the defense is reloading.

But also, it’s the third year with offensive coordinator Todd Monken, and Bennett’s third year under center.

“I think a big part of the offense is having an identity, believing in who you are, don’t try and force your players into that, being strong where you are strong and improving your weaknesses,” Smart said. “But (Monken) knows what he wants to do, he knows package plays that work well together.”

The annual spring scrimmage will be the first time Georgia fans get to see the reloaded version of the Bulldogs, with some 16 players off the 2021 team expected to be in NFL camps this summer.

There has been other attrition with the new one-time transfer rule, and onlookers on Saturday noted that offensive lineman Amarius Mims was not present.

Mims, who missed practices at the start of spring drills with an unspecified injury, has been making his move on the depth chart at right tackle, recently drawing praise from Coach Kirby Smart.

But there has been speculation for weeks that the former 5-star might opt for an easier path into a starting lineup elsewhere and opt for the portal.

Smart is expected to meet with the media next week to recap his thoughts on Scrimmage Two.