Georgia's Smart demands respect for QB Bennett: People 'keep doubting him'

Georgia head coach Kirby Smart is demanding more respect for quarterback Stetson Bennett.

"Stetson's one of the least respected good players there is in this country," Smart said Wednesday at SEC media days, according to Sarah K. Spencer of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution.

"And guess what, we get to see it every day. The kid's a tremendous athlete. He's got good arm strength. People just keep doubting him, and that's fine with me."

Bennett, who faced criticism last season, completed 64.5% of his passes while tossing 2,862 yards and 29 touchdowns against seven interceptions across 14 games en route to helping Georgia win its first national title since 1980.

The Bulldogs boasted one of the best defenses in college football history last year, allowing only 10.2 points per game. They had 15 players selected in the 2022 NFL Draft, including five defenders in the first round.

"I think I'm good," Bennett said, according to ESPN's Harry Lyles Jr. "As far as the respect thing, I've gotten (Smart's) respect, and I've got my coaches' respect. And hopefully, I've got people who know ball's respect."

He added: "I can look in the mirror and know that there were some times that I struggled last year and let's pinpoint these and let's decrease those. But as far as worried about what the whole country thinks, I can't do that."

Stetson, a former walk-on, won offensive MVP honors in the national title game against Alabama after completing 17-of-26 passes for 224 yards and two touchdowns, with both scores coming in the fourth quarter to seal the win.