Georgia redshirt freshman walk-on quarterback Stetson Bennett IV has decided to leave the program.
Normally the departures of walk-ons go unnoticed, but Bennett's absence has left the Bulldogs with just two quarterbacks who competed in last month's G-Day spring game - sophomore Jake Fromm and freshman Justin Fields.
Bennett, a 6-foot, 172-pounder from Blackshear, Georgia, completed five of nine passes for 73 yards at G-Day.
Georgia coach Kirby Smart often lumped Bennett into the conversation during spring practice when he was asked about the competition between Fromm and Fields. Smart made it clear this past week in Columbus, Georgia, that he wanted Bennett to stay.
"Stetson has done a tremendous job for us, and we are really excited about what he's done for us," Smart told reporters. "We are exhausting every option to try and keep Stetson with us. We think he's a very talented young man.
"I've spoken on that behalf multiple times, and I hope we can keep him."
Bennett's father told the Athens Banner-Herald that his son likely was heading to a junior college in Mississippi, adding, "Battling against the No. 1 defense in the nation only increased his confidence. He knows he can play at a high level."
Contact David Paschall at dpaschall@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6524.