House Resolution 34

(As Adopted by House)

A RESOLUTION COMMENDING THE STELLAR ATHLETIC CAREER ACCOMPLISHMENTS OF MR. STETSON BENNETT IV, UPON LEADING THE UNIVERSITY OF GEORGIA BULLDOGS FOOTBALL TEAM TO CAPTURE THE 2021 COLLEGE FOOTBALL PLAYOFF NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP.

WHEREAS, history has been in the making for Blackshear, Georgia native, Stetson Bennett IV since the very first moment he donned a high school football uniform and made the fateful step onto the gridiron in Pierce County, a journey that has culminated in his becoming the quarterback for the 2021 College Football Playoff National Champions, the University of Georgia Bulldogs; and

WHEREAS, before his rise to national acclaim, Stetson transferred to Jones Junior College in 2018 after initially redshirting at the University of Georgia in 2017; and

WHEREAS, it was during this JUCO period that Stetson zeroed in on perfecting the precision of his craft, and guided the Bobcats to a 10-2 record, the MACJC South Division title, the conference championship game and a 27-7 Mississippi Bowl win over Eastern Arizona; and

WHEREAS, he passed for 1,840 yards, which was 12th in the NJCAA, and 16 touchdowns, rushed for 148 yards and four touchdowns, and threw for a career-high 314 yards and three touchdowns in a 36-34 win over Northwest in the conference semifinals; and

WHEREAS, Mr. Bennett's display of impeccable talent during his season at Jones garnered the attention of the University of Louisiana coaching staff, which offered him a scholarship, but Stetson's dream was to always return to the University of Georgia, a dream turned reality when he walked-on at Georgia in 2019 and played in five games; and

WHEREAS, the 2020 pigskin season would usher in Stetson's first career start with the Bulldogs, in which he completed 17 of 28 passes for 240 yards and a touchdown in a 27-6 win over Auburn, and would blaze the trail for him to serve as starting quarterback in four additional games, one of which resulted in a 44-21 win over Tennessee, when he completed 16 of 27 passes for 238 yards and two touchdowns, and ushered in the inclusion of his name to the Davey O'Brien Award "Great 8" list; and

WHEREAS, during the 2021 season, Stetson was in full throttle control of his team's trajectory for success, starting 12 of the 14 games he played, including the final 10, which accounted for: a 56-7 win over Alabama-Birmingham, when he completed 10 of 12 passes for 288 yards, a school-record tying five touchdowns, and simultaneous National Performer of the Week by the College Performance Awards and also earned SEC Co-Offensive Player of the Week recognitions; a 34-11 CFP Orange Bowl semifinal win over Michigan, during which he completed 20 of 30 passes for 313 yards, and three touchdowns, and the honor of being named the game's Offensive MVP; and

WHEREAS, Bennett's climactic 2021 year saw him lead Georgia to a 13-1 record and the College Football Playoff National Championship, for which he was named Offensive MVP after leading the Bulldogs to a 33-18 victory over the Crimson Tide, by completing 17 of 26 passes for 224 yards and two touchdowns, and directing two fourth quarter touchdown drives with his final two passes going for touchdowns of 40 and 15 yards, respectively; and

WHEREAS, Bennett finished the year ranked fourth nationally in passing efficiency (176.7), fourth in yards per completion (15.47) and third in yards per pass attempt (9.97), which numerically computes to 2,862 yards passing, 185 completed of 287 pass attempts, 29 touchdowns, tapped as one of three finalists for the 2021 Burlsworth Trophy, presented to the country's most outstanding player who began his career as a walk-on; and

WHEREAS, it is the policy of the House of Representatives to commend the excellence of student-athletes who showcase exceptional talent in their respective athletic fields, as made evident by the accomplishments of Stetson Bennett IV:

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI, That we do hereby commend the stellar athletic career accomplishments of Mr. Stetson Bennett IV, upon leading the University of Georgia Bulldogs Football Team to capture the 2021 College Football Playoff National Championship, and extend best wishes for continued success in all his future endeavors.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That copies of this resolution be furnished to Stetson Bennett IV and to the members of the Capitol Press Corps.