Stetson Bennett is the best quarterback Kentucky has faced

Kentucky linebacker Jordan Wright will do his best to pressure Georgia quarterback Stetson Bennett Saturday. (Vicky Graff Photo)

Georgia won a national championship with Stetson Bennett, a one-time walk-on player, at quarterback. The Bulldogs are again No. 1, unbeaten and favored to win another national title with Bennett at quarterback.

The Bulldogs play at Kentucky Saturday and the Georgia quarterback has made a believer out of UK defensive coordinator Brad White.

“Bennett is playing at an extremely high level right now. Surprised he doesn’t have some Heisman buzz,” said White after Wednesday’s practice. “He is playing at that type of level.”

Yet Bennett is not mentioned among the leaders for any individual award.

“He does not get the credit he deserves. He can create with arm and legs. He’s smart, checking out of plays in certain looks. In real command back there,” White said.

How good is he? He has thrown for 14 touchdowns and ran for seven more. He’s thrown for 250 or more yards in nine of the 10 games this season. And he takes care of the ball — he has just five interceptions on 329 attempts.

“He’s the best QB, probably, we’ve faced all year,” White said.

That might not play well in Tennessee where quarterback Hendon Hooker helped the Vols route UK last  month.

“No disrespect to anyone else we’ve seen with his command. Hendon Hooker’s playing at an extremely high level,” White said. “It’s just a testament to how well he’s playing.”

Bennett benefits from a skilled group of tight ends that Georgia actually uses on a regular basis.

“This is as good of a group of tight ends as you’re going to find in college football,” White said. “Everybody sees the ability they have in the passing game. Everybody sees the different things that Bowers can do—catch bubble screens, take fly sweeps. But they’re also very good blockers who can move guys off the ball.”

“With Bowers, Washington, (Oscar) Delp, and (Arik) Gilbert, any of those four could be a starter for anybody in the country. Bennett isn’t afraid to throw it up and away and let them go get it.”

That’s because Bennett has experience that enables him to almost always make the right read and throw. This is the fourth season he’s played and his experience shows.

“Back at my time (in the NFL)  in Indy (as a defensive coach), when you faced (Aaron) Rogers, (Tom) Brady, (Drew) Brees, that’s what makes those guys so special is their mind, they’ve seen so much,” White said.

“Stetson has seen everything, and he’s able to process through it and put it in the right spot. That’s the challenge. We’ve got to try and give him something he hasn’t seen, but he’s probably seen everything over the past three years.”