Stetson Bennett of Georgia and Cade McNamara of Michigan led their respective teams to 12 wins during the season and landing at College Football. Both midfielders are only one match away from participating in the national championship.
However, as any beginner quarterback knows, there’s still a lot of talk about their fallback going into Friday’s national semifinals at the Orange Bowl. Can Georgia’s JT Daniels and Michigan’s JJ McCarthy play any role in this game?
That to a certain extent detracts from what these midfielders have achieved. Bennett crossed 2,325 yards with 24 TDs and seven interceptions. McNamara crossed 2,470 yards with 15 TDs and four interceptions.
But you are only as good as your last start. Bennett finished 29/4 48 340 yards, three TDs and two interruptions in a 41-24 loss to Alabama in the SEC championship game, and that increased the pressure on the tall quarterback age. Bennett was asked about that pressure to lead a national championship available in the media on Tuesday.
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“I guess it gets a little frustrating sometimes, but like I said, I don’t have social media so I don’t wallow in it,” says Bennett. “I don’t sit in it. I don’t think about it. All I think about is beating Michigan and being the best full-back I can be for my teammates.”
Former Georgia defender Buck Belue, who led the Bulldogs’ last national championship in 1980, is now a radio analyst on Sports Radio 680 in Atlanta. He hears Bennett’s criticisms and appeals to Daniels daily on his show.
Belue told SN: “It’s better for Stetson to put the blind in there and focus on what he can handle. “He doesn’t control about that 30%, so I talked about who doesn’t want him out there. That’s not going to help him, think about it.”
Belue doesn’t believe Daniels, a USC transfer who started in the opening game against Clemson, will have much time against Michigan. Daniels returned Monday after clearing COVID-19 protocols, and Georgia Attack Coordinator Todd Monken Says Backups, “instantly accessible and knew exactly what we wanted to do.”
Bulldogs coach Kirby Smart played the midfield close to the vest, but Belue expected to see Bennett.
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“Just speaking for myself, I wasn’t expecting to see JT Daniels,” Belue said. “Obviously they’re moving forward with Stetson. I haven’t seen any activity since the game in Alabama, but it’s clear that Kirby is sticking with Stetson.”
Michigan has found a way to make it work, at least for this season, with both quarterbacks. McNamara won the first job, but McCarthy, a five-star recruit, made a huge impression with first TD pass in the opening against Western Michigan. ESPN analyst Kirk Herbstreit said he can’t remember the level of hype surrounding the Wolverines quarterback since Chad Henne took the job as a freshman in 2004.
“McCarthy is going to the games in September, all the students and fans are like, ‘Oh, this is our savior,'” Herbstreit said during Monday’s conference call.
However, Herbstreit noticed something else in those moments. McNamara won’t go out on the sidelines alone. He will stay on the sidelines and help McCarthy.
“(McNamara) was over there, and he was the first to cheer,” Herbstreit said. That says a lot to me about his wiring and how he handles that. ”
McNamara handled that by taking Michigan to its first Big Ten championship since 2004 and its first win over Ohio State since 2011. McCarthy will participate in certain packages against Georgia, and His living arm and running ability are attributes that could elevate that QB contest in 2022.
However, Michigan’s offensive coordinator, Josh Gattis, is pleased with the quarterbacks’ current relationship.
“I think it’s so important that I have to admit, when you have two players like Cade and JJ, it’s just the unselfishness of those two that got us where we are today,” said Gattis. speak. “When you go through a situation where you’re playing a lot of midfield, it can make or break your team.”
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In this case, Georgia and Michigan seem poised to begin – and end – with McNamara and Bennett. For McNamara, the chemistry on the team was a differentiating factor, especially in Miami. The future can wait.
“I think as we’re getting to the final month of the season, we’re trying to make the most of those moments because obviously this team will never be the same after this,” McNamara said.
For Bennett, it’s not about who calls for the next staffing. It’s focused on winning the next game.
“If you listen to them when they tell you how good they are, you’ll listen to them when they tell you how bad you are,” says Bennett. “I don’t really care what other people say.”
