ATHENS — Stetson Bennett is no stranger to overcoming adversity, having done that before en route to two national championships at Georgia.
It’s a well-documented story that has had some curious and decidedly downward twists of late, with Bennett’s brash behavior at the Bulldogs’ victory celebration and Sunday morning arrest in Dallas on charges of public intoxication.
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Former NFL scout and Senior Bowl executive director Jim Nagy was asked on a Monday OutKick podcast if Bennett had been invited to play in that game, and what to make of the former Georgia star’s future.
“I was working with Stetson’s people, I thought it made a ton of sense for him,” Nagy said of recruiting Bennett to take part in the practices and game this week in Mobile, Ala.
“What he did in Athens was incredible, but you know Stetson Bennett with his chip on his shoulder is a different quarterback than he’s going to want to be in the NFL,” Nagy said.
“The NFL wants a backup that’s going to be dependable, stable, a reliable supportive of the starter with a low ego.”
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Bennett carried many of those characteristics throughout the vast amount of his career, working his way from walk-on, to junior college, to fourth-stringer and then starter.
But the program’s recent success and championship level play — and Bennett being selected by the media as a Heisman Trophy finalist and projected as a third-round NFL pick by Mel Kiper Jr. — may have not had the best effect on the former Georgia quarterback.
The NFL decision-makers in Mobile will surely be discussing Bennett and other quarterbacks amongst themselves, as hundreds of NFL personnel including general managers and owners flock to Mobile for an unofficial convention of sorts.
“This was an opportunity for Stetson to turn the page, he had a great college career, but that’s in the past now,” Nagy said. “He has to look forward to what he’ll do in his pro career.”
Nagy mentioned Luke Getsy, the Chicago Bears offensive coordinator, coaching the “American” team that Kenny McIntosh, Chris Smith, Warren McClendon and Jack Podlesny will all play on.
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Bennett would have been the quarterback for a Bears team that reportedly had interest in him, as Nagy said there’s a “murky” back-up QB situation behind starter Justin Fields.
“He could have really helped himself down here, (and) I hate to see what happened,” Nagy said. “My phone was lighting up the other day, and obviously he’s not in a great place, because that stuff doesn’t happen if you are (in a great place).
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“You shouldn’t opt out of the Senior bowl and then have that happen the day of arrival. If he just comes to Mobile, he doesn’t get in that trouble.”
Neither Bennett’s agents, nor any of his sponsors or the University of Georgia have made any statements.
The show will go on in Mobile, Ala., and the NFL Draft evaluation process will move forward.
And Bennett will surely continue his workouts and look to be in his best shape for the NFL Combine and UGA Pro Day.
