Stetson Bennett is the latest college football walk-on turned legend
Some of the best stories in college football history include walk-on players blossoming into stars– just ask Stetson Bennett. The Georgia Bulldogs quarterback began his career as a walk-on for the group in 2017 but ended it as a UGA football legend.
1 Related Bennett helped his Bulldogs defeat the No. 3 TCU Horned Frogs 65-7 in the 2023 College Football Playoff Championship game game, becoming the first team given that the Alabama Crimson Tide(2011-12) to win successive nationwide titles. Bennett ended up Monday’s game with 304 passing yards and 6 total touchdowns (4 death, two rushing).
The Bulldogs signal-caller likewise led Georgia to a 2022 CFP title with a win over Alabama, which ended a 40-season title drought for the school. Provided his resume, Bennett might go down as one of the most effective players in the school’s history.Bennett’s memorable career with Georgia reminds us of other previous walk-ons who went far for themselves on the college gridiron.WR, Clemson Tigers( 2014-2018) Hunter Renfrow started as a walk-on at Clemson but made a name for himself with his game-winning touchdown catch in the 2017 College Football Playoff Championship game game.(Image by Mark LoMoglio/Icon Sportswire)Renfrow, a longtime Tigers fan, walked on at Clemson in 2014 and redshirted his freshman
year. He earned a scholarship in 2015. The legend of Renfrow grew because of his performance in the 2017 CFP title game. He captured 10 passes for 92 backyards and two touchdowns, among his ratings was the game-winner that offered Clemson its first championship game given that 1981. Renfrow ended up being a trusted option for quarterbacks Deshaun Watson and Trevor Lawrence throughout his four-year period with the Tigers. According to Clemson’s football site, Renfrow finished his profession 5th in receptions(186) and 11th in getting yards (2,133)in school history. In 2018, he earned the Burlsworth Prize, awarded to the very best college football player who started as a walk-on. QB, Texas Tech Red Raiders(2013)QB, Oklahoma Sooners (2015-17) Baker Mayfield was a walk-on at Texas Tech, then transferred to the Oklahoma where he ended up being a college football star.(Photo by Scott Clarke/ ESPN Images)Mayfield signed up with the Red Raiders as a freshman walk-on in 2013 and was called the starting quarterback after first-string signal-caller Michael Maker suffered a back injury. He completed his freshman year at Texas Tech with 2,315 backyards passing, 12 goals and 9 interceptions.Mayfield moved to Oklahoma after one year at Texas Tech. He remained the 2014 season because of the NCAA’s transfer rules and made his debut in 2015. Over 3 seasons with the Sooners, Mayfield threw for 12,292 yards, 119 touchdowns and 21 interceptions.He completed with a 33-6 record as a starter at Oklahoma, earned the Burlsworth Prize two times (2015 and 2016 )and got the Heisman Trophy in 2017. TE, Central Michigan Chippewas( 2007)DE, Wisconsin Badgers( 2008-10) After reaching Wisconsin as a walk-on, J.J. Watt
made a name for himself at protective end for the Badgers.(Photo by John Biever/ Sports Illustrated via Getty Images )Prior to Watt went after quarterbacks for a living, he captured passes from them. He played tight end for Central Michigan during his freshman year and after that transferred to Wisconsin as a walk-on protective end. After redshirting in 2008, he ended up being a force off the edge.Watt started all 13 games in 2009 and ended up in the leading three in deals with for loss(15.5), pass breaks up (5), sacks(4.5) and fumble healings (2)on the team.In 2010, Watt won the Ronnie Lott Trophy, granted to a protective player who excelled on the field and revealed exceptional character off of it.
Watt also made a first-team All-Big 10 nod and a second-team AP All-American choice that season. Watt finished his Badgers profession with 106 total tackles, 36.5 takes on for loss and 11.5 sacks.LB, USC Trojans(2004-08) Clay Matthews went from walk-on to starting linebacker at USC (Picture by Luis Sinco/Los Angeles Times by means of Getty Images)Matthews came to USC in 2004 as a walk-on but didn’t get on the field till 2005. As a redshirt freshman, he appeared in 12 games. In 2006, Matthews earned a scholarship from the Trojans and won the team’s special groups player of the year award.In 2007, Matthews received more playing time and continued to excel on unique groups. He began at linebacker as a senior and collected 57 total deals with and 4.5 sacks.Matthews finished his USC career with 97 overall deals with, 13.5 takes on for loss and 5.5 sacks.WR, Miami Hurricanes (1997-2000) Santana Moss earned a scholarship after strolling on at Miami and ended up being a star receiver and return expert.(Picture by Damian Strohmeyer/Sports Illustrated by means of Getty Images )Moss joined the Hurricanes ‘football team as a walk-on in 1997. He earned a scholarship throughout
his freshman season and ended up being an all-purpose playmaker.Moss starred as a receiver and returner for Miami throughout his four-year profession. In 1999, he scored 6 touchdowns and led the group with 54 receptions and 899 receiving lawns. In 2000, Moss set the single-season NCAA record for punt return goals with four. He likewise racked up 45 receptions for 748 lawns and five touchdowns that season.Moss received one second-team All-Big East classification(1998)
, 2 first-team All-Big East nods(1999, 2000 )and won Big East Offensive Gamer of the Year and Special Groups Player of the Year honors(2000 )at Miami. Moss is the school’s leader in versatile yards (4,394), career getting lawns(2,546), punt return backyards (1,196) and punt return touchdowns (6).