REPORT: Despite everything, Rams quarterback Stetson Bennett never received a degree from Georgia.

The Stetson Bennett story is one of the most improbable and captivating narratives in recent college football history. From walk-on to two-time national champion quarterback for the Georgia Bulldogs, his journey was a Hollywood script come to life – a testament to perseverance, self-belief, and seizing every opportunity. He became a folk hero in Athens, the unlikely leader who guided his beloved Dawgs to unprecedented heights. Yet, amidst the parades, the accolades, and the eventual NFL Draft selection by the Los Angeles Rams, a surprising detail emerged that has continued to circulate: Stetson Bennett never received a degree from the University of Georgia.

This fact, initially surfacing around the time of the 2023 NFL Draft, struck many as counterintuitive, even perplexing. Bennett had spent a considerable amount of time in college, starting his journey in Athens in 2017, transferring to a junior college (Jones College) in 2018, and then returning to Georgia in 2019, where he remained through the 2022 season. That’s a total of six years of collegiate eligibility and academic enrollment. For a player who was often lauded for his intelligence, his understanding of the game, and his mature leadership, the absence of a college degree seemed incongruous with the public perception of the quarterback.

The immediate reaction from some corners of social media was one of judgment and even ridicule. Memes circulated, and comparisons were drawn to other college athletes, like Jalen Hurts, who famously earned multiple degrees while navigating demanding football careers. The criticism often centered on the notion that if an athlete spends so many years in college, especially on scholarship, failing to secure a degree represents a missed opportunity, a failure to maximize the “student” part of “student-athlete.”

However, the reality behind a college athlete’s academic journey is often far more complex than a simple pass/fail narrative. For someone like Stetson Bennett, who spent years not just playing football but battling for a starting spot, transferring, redshirting, and then becoming the face of a championship program, the academic path can be incredibly challenging.

Here are some factors that could contribute to why a high-profile athlete, even one who spends extended time in college, might not complete their degree:

1. Changing Majors/Academic Paths: It’s common for college students, athletes or not, to change their major multiple times as they discover their interests and career aspirations. Each change can mean that previously earned credits no longer apply to a new degree program, effectively setting back their graduation timeline. While Bennett’s specific academic path isn’t widely publicized, it’s a plausible scenario given his extended time in college. He was reportedly majoring in Learning Design and Technology, which may have had specific course requirements that weren’t easily fulfilled around his demanding football schedule.

2. Credit Transfer Issues (Junior College): Bennett’s stint at Jones College, while crucial for his football development, could have introduced complications with credit transfers back to a major university like Georgia. Not all junior college credits are universally accepted or seamlessly transfer into every four-year degree program, especially for specific majors. While many general education credits typically transfer, upper-level or specific major courses can be trickier.

3. Demanding Athletic Schedule: This is perhaps the most obvious factor. The life of a Division I college football player, especially a starting quarterback for a national championship contender, is incredibly demanding. The year-round schedule includes:

   • Fall Season: Practices, games (often traveling across the country), film study, team meetings, media obligations. This leaves minimal time for traditional classroom learning.
   • Offseason: Winter conditioning, spring practice, summer workouts. These are not “off” periods but continuous training cycles.
   • Travel: Road games and bowl games mean significant time away from campus and missed classes. While universities provide academic support and tutors, keeping up with a full course load, particularly in rigorous majors, is a constant battle.

4. Strategic Course Selection for Eligibility: The primary academic goal for many college athletes, unfortunately, becomes maintaining NCAA eligibility. This often means taking the necessary number of credit hours and maintaining a minimum GPA, sometimes leading athletes to select courses that are less demanding or fit better into their hectic schedules, rather than consistently advancing towards a specific degree. While this is not always the case, it’s a known phenomenon in college athletics.

5. Focus on Professional Career: For a player like Stetson Bennett, whose NFL prospects skyrocketed during his final two seasons, the immediate priority undoubtedly shifted to preparing for a professional career. The NFL Draft Combine, Pro Days, team interviews, and pre-draft workouts require immense dedication. At a certain point, the calculus for many athletes changes: securing a lucrative professional contract becomes the overriding goal, and completing the final few credit hours for a degree may take a backseat, knowing they can always return to finish it later. Bennett was a 25-year-old rookie when he was drafted, making his immediate entry into the professional world even more pressing.

6. “Non-Football Concerns” / Maturity Narratives: As his draft process unfolded, reports emerged about “non-football concerns” regarding Bennett, including some questions about maturity and an offseason arrest for public intoxication. While these were largely downplayed by the Rams, the narrative of not having a degree sometimes got lumped into these discussions, perhaps unfairly, as another perceived indicator of a lack of long-term planning or discipline, even if it wasn’t the primary cause.

While the revelation about Stetson Bennett’s degree status might be surprising to some, it does not diminish his extraordinary achievements on the football field or his historical impact on the Georgia program. He led the Bulldogs to back-to-back national championships, a feat that etched his name into college football immortality. He earned the respect of his teammates, coaches, and the entire fanbase for his grit, determination, and uncanny ability to perform in clutch moments.

Furthermore, many professional athletes, particularly in football and basketball, enter the league without completing their degrees. The NBA has its “one-and-done” rule, and many top NFL prospects declare early for the draft, foregoing their final year(s) of eligibility and, often, their degree. For these athletes, the financial and career opportunities of professional sports outweigh the immediate value of a diploma, with many expressing intentions to complete their education later in life.

For Stetson Bennett, who signed a multi-million dollar contract with the Rams, the immediate financial security and career opportunity were substantial. The “degree” he earned from Georgia, in a very real sense, was the invaluable experience of leading a championship team, the development he received from elite coaching, and the networking opportunities that come with being a beloved figure in one of college football’s most passionate fanbases. If he chooses to, he can always return to the University of Georgia to complete his degree, leveraging the robust support systems available to former athletes.

In the end, Stetson Bennett’s story remains remarkable. The absence of a physical diploma is a footnote, a minor detail in a career defined by unprecedented triumph and a refusal to yield to doubt. His legacy as a Georgia Bulldog legend, a walk-on who became a national champion, is secure, degree or no degree.