INDIANAPOLIS – It’s been a turbulent couple of months for Stetson Bennett.
The two-time nationwide champion quarterback first created controversy together with his habits at Georgia’s nationwide championship celebration. A public intoxication arrest in Dallas later that month solely elevated the noise round Bennett, already considered a late-round draft prospect.
Bennett lastly obtained his probability to handle these points Friday throughout his media session on the NFL Scouting Combine. He started by apologizing for the incident in Dallas.
“It was a mistake that, , all people’s conscious of,” Bennett mentioned. “I perceive why that may’t occur. I’ve talked to coaches about it, talked to GMs, apologized to my household. That’s who I really feel worst about. It felt like I allow them to down. No matter the place I am going now, and even with out all this, I’ve obtained an obligation. I’m the fourth. Can’t try this in case your final title is Bennett.”
On the subject of the parade, Bennett defended himself.
“I noticed it as a parade for us who received, and I used to be enjoying music for Sed and Chris and attempting to have a superb time,” Bennett mentioned. “People took it as if I used to be, I do not actually know the way folks took it, however they did not prefer it. And so, I’m sorry about that, however I strictly noticed it as an opportunity for me and Sed and Chris to have one final journey down Lumpkin on the best way to Sanford collectively, and I simply needed to play the perfect tunes we may.”
But the controversies did not totally rule the day, regardless of all of the unfavourable headlines of late.
Bennett mentioned he is been engaged on his footwork and particular throws he is aware of he’ll be requested to do in Indianapolis. The message he is attempting to convey to NFL groups is certainly one of honesty and genuineness.
All that is taking place in the identical metropolis the place Bennett and the Bulldogs claimed the 2021 nationwide championship.
“We thought it was fairly cool,” Bennett mentioned. “Walked in there, I really like the stadium. I feel the stadium’s superior. I feel it simply seems like town, so that you keep in mind that. I feel it feels somewhat completely different than it did. It’s positively hotter. It was freezing. But yeah, it was particular strolling in right here. You don’t suppose, you simply bear in mind sure issues, sure performs like a fumble that may have occurred. It was fairly cool.”
There are loads of questions on Bennett’s recreation. He does not draw back from the truth that he has loads of work to do earlier than being able to take an NFL snap.
But the previous Bulldog additionally feels well-prepared mentally after enjoying at Georgia in Todd Monken’s offense.
“I really feel like Coach Monk helped me out a lot with that,” Bennett mentioned. “It’s the identical recreation. There are, clearly, 1,000,000 issues to work on. But so far as protections and scheme and stuff, I feel on the very least Coach Monken helped me have a basis of data that I can apply to the subsequent system that I’m requested to do it in.”
Bennett’s journey continues on Saturday when he’ll participate in on-field drills. As he prepares for the subsequent step, he is embracing the potential of no matter would possibly come within the NFL.
“My obligation is to the staff that I’m drafted to, be the perfect participant for that and to be taught to play soccer,” Bennett mentioned. “At the top of the day, I’ve by no means been a wave-causer or something like that. I preserve my head down, and I play ball. So no matter is requested of me is requested of me. When I get there, you have to be the perfect participant to play, and I do know there’s extra to that in all probability right here. At the top of the day, that is all you’ll be able to management so that is what I’ll do.”
On if he regrets not going to the Senior Bowl: “I actually needed to play in it. There was loads happening in the meanwhile. I mentioned with those who have been near me, requested recommendation. Decided that I wanted to go practice, I wanted to get higher. But I do want that I may have, however simply finally determined the opposite was the higher alternative.”
On how Georgia performed so effectively in opposition to TCU within the nationwide title recreation: “We worked hard for three years with Coach Monk. I think it was a culmination of all that stuff. I think we just let it all out.”
On Mike Bobo: “I didn’t actually work together with Coach Bobo. I feel he helped with some stuff upstairs, however I didn’t actually work together. I really like him as an individual, however so far as teaching and stuff like that, didn’t actually speak to him.”
On if he is the perfect quarterback within the draft: “I’ve obtained confidence in my talents. Everybody asks that query. There’s a lot extra to enjoying quarterback than folks know. There’s completely different offenses, completely different checks, completely different motions, no matter. Whatever you’re requested to do, that’s all you are able to do within the offense. Then you’ve gotten your bodily capability. Lots of people have bodily capability, proper? Especially on the quarterback place, the psychological acuity and how one can deal with sure conditions, you’ll be able to’t actually measure that. I’ve confidence in my capability, but additionally all these dudes are gamers too.”
