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Michael Bennett proving to be a big catch for UGA

7:00 am September 21, 2012, by Tim Tucker

Michael Bennett had career-high 110 receiving yards against Florida Atlantic, including a career-long 67-yard TD. (UGA photo/Jim Hipple)

Michael Bennett had career-high 110 receiving yards against Florida Atlantic, including a career-long 67-yard TD. (UGA photo/Jim Hipple)

ATHENS — When Georgia coach Mark Richt offered Alpharetta High wide receiver Michael Bennett a scholarship in the summer of 2009, Bennett resisted the urge to accept on the spot.

“I felt like that might seem a little desperate,” Bennett said with a laugh this week. “So I gave it a few days.”

Georgia was the first — and as it turned out the only — SEC school to offer Bennett a scholarship. Richt made the offer on the spot after watching Bennett, who was about to enter his senior year of high school at the time, catch passes against some of the Southeast’s top cornerback prospects during a camp on the UGA campus. The skills Richt saw that day are becoming apparent to all.

After redshirting as a UGA freshman in 2010 and showing considerable promise in 2011, Bennett has emerged as the Bulldogs’ most productive receiver in the early stages of this season. Through three games, he leads the team in catches (17) and receiving yards (265).

Two weeks ago, he had a career-high eight catches against Missouri. Last week, he had a career-high 110 receiving yards against Florida Atlantic, including a career-long 67-yard touchdown catch.

The recruiting services ranked the 6-foot-3 Bennett as a three-star prospect in high school. But when he attended the “Mark Richt Camp” in Athens in June 2009, a number of four- and five-star defensive backs were on the field with him.

“It was actually a camp where we felt we had gotten some of the better cover cornerbacks to come and participate, some kids from around the Southeast,” Richt recalled. “We were really anxious to see what those guys could do. And then Michael Bennett showed up and started whipping ’em.”

During a camp lunch break, as Richt remembers it, the Georgia coach mentioned to his staff that the kid from Alpharetta made an impression on him during the morning session. He told his assistants to keep an eye on Bennett in the afternoon session and to continue testing him by matching him up against the best defensive backs because “we might offer this kid.”

“Sure enough, the second half of the camp, he continued to do what he did the first half,” said Richt, who recalled being impressed by Bennett’s route-running, hands, toughness, competitiveness and size. “So at the end of the camp, we offered him.”

Bennett remembers every detail of that day, from the weather (“real hot”) to Richt’s brief hesitation before offering.

“Coach Richt came up to me and was, like, ‘I don’t know if we’re ready to offer you yet,’” Bennett said. “I was, like, ‘Here we go again.’ My dad and I were kind of disappointed.”

Richt stepped away to consult with an assistant coach.

“He came back 30 seconds later and was, like, ‘All right, we’re going to offer you,’” Bennett said. “I was just, like, ‘Oh my gosh, those are the best words ever.’”

A few days later, Bennett committed to Georgia. At that point, he also had offers from Big Ten schools Wisconsin and Indiana, among others, but “I kind of wanted to stay close to home.”

In the three-plus years since, Bennett “has muscled up” and “gotten even better at what he does,” Richt said. “He likes every aspect of the game. He blocks well. He catches balls in traffic. We’ve seen him go deep a couple of times. Last year, he had a couple of phenomenal catches — one against Florida on fourth down and one against Auburn early in the game [both for touchdowns]. He’s just been very reliable for us.” Oh, and he has “pretty good game speed,” Richt said.

All in all, not bad for a three-star recruit.

“I wasn’t recruited highly coming in, so I’ve always had a little chip on my shoulder,” Bennett said. “To go in and contribute like this has been a real goal of mine.”

Bennett is part of a deep group of wide receivers that has prompted Georgia to increasingly embrace four-receiver sets. Three games into the season, three different Bulldogs have posted 100-yard receiving games: Tavarres King against Buffalo (117 yards), Marlon Brown against Missouri (106) and Bennett against Florida Atlantic. Rantavious Wooten and Chris Conley also are threats at wide receiver, and the position should grow stronger with the plan to expand receiver/cornerback Malcolm Mitchell’s offensive role.

Bennett is beginning to shake the label of “possession receiver,” which implies a lack of breakaway speed.

“He definitely hates that label,” Georgia quarterback Aaron Murray said.

Said King: “He’s going to be great before he leaves here.”

– Tim Tucker

COVERAGE LEADING UP TO  GEORGIA-VANDERBILT GAME:

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164 comments Add your comment

chilidawg

September 21st, 2012
10:17 am

Funny, I don’t remember a lot of hand wringing on these blogs over whether or not we would land him… I don’t mind missing out on the RKs and RFs if they turn out to be more of a distraction than a team player. But I will take all of the JJs we can get.

ARdawg

September 21st, 2012
10:22 am

joe jenkins

We can beat any or all of them

kingdaddy

September 21st, 2012
10:25 am

Wow, all these good WRs, and Justin Scott-Wesley hasn’t even been mentioned. Once we get into the meat of our SEC schedule, expect Mitchell to play more Offense, Defense & Special-Teams like Boykin did. Can’t keep the best players off the field in the SEC…

dawgfan

September 21st, 2012
10:27 am

2. Nortre dame
3. west virgina
4.fsu
5. mich st.
6. sooners
7.bama
8.lsu
Does anybody really think we could beat these teams….i don’t think so….not with defense and unproven o-line

The only team on that list I know for sure we cannot beat is Bama. Not right now at least. LSU hasn’t really played anybody yet so the jury is still out on them as far as I’m concerned, but I would imagine with their usual horde of big men up front that they would give us major problems. As for the rest, yes I think we could absolutely beat them. I’m not saying we would, but we are definitely capable. Dumb question kid.

dawg fan

September 21st, 2012
10:29 am

hes like having Kris Durham again – and to any who question that – its a huge compliment

ARdawg

September 21st, 2012
10:32 am

I don’t know why some of you yahoos fear Bama. They’re good, they are not unbeatable or invincible. Some one beats Bama this year. Maybe twice

Carz

September 21st, 2012
10:32 am

He’s really good and always open, but his whiteness will label him a possession reciever. I have never seen such a good collection of skilled route runners and compete recievers as UGA has now. That’s why they were willing to move Mitchell. I hope the Falcons take a shot at Tavaress King as the 3rd reciever. I have a good feeling about him as a pro with all his experience in a pro set like UGA runs.

Left Coast Dawg

September 21st, 2012
10:34 am

Joe Jenkins, like Dawgfan said, that was a dumb question.

LHarding Dawg

September 21st, 2012
10:37 am

Gosh Dawgfan, we can’t beat anybody. Why bother with the games?

LHarding Dawg

September 21st, 2012
10:38 am

MB fast becoming one of my favorites on this team.

kingdaddy

September 21st, 2012
10:39 am

MB is a deserving kid who has been patient and worked his way to where he is. Gotta hand it to him for his hard work and determination. Murray is the right QB, in the right place, at the right time. We will learn more about our Oline by the time this game is over. Vandy will be a very good test, but of course even if we win, the trolls will say we didn’t play anybody. (The same trolls that are saying Vandy will beat us because of our Defense & Oline play). Go figure…

Augustabred

September 21st, 2012
10:43 am

@ Contractor; I don’t think that is a accurate statement. All those receivers are sure handed. King and Mitchell made play after play last season. Brown is probably the best receiver on the team but was always hurt. If Brown stays healthy he will be the #1 go to guy. I take nothing away from Bennett though.

joe jenkins

September 21st, 2012
10:46 am

I think it was a legit question….I don’t think we could beat any of those teams right now. I firgured some of you disney dawgs would say that….i’m a realist dawg…..I see for what we are….A team about to get exposed… We all will find out if we are for real if we win in that rat hole of columbia….and we win in jacksonville….but i doubt it, the gators are looking really strong on defense….they have wo two tough road games as well.

dawgfan

September 21st, 2012
10:46 am

“I don’t know why some of you yahoos fear Bama.”

Probably because I’ve seen them play. They don’t make mistakes. Their defense doesn’t give up big plays. They don’t drop passes. McCarron has been on fire so far this year. They are in mid-November form right now and we are not. If we played them tomorrow they would spank us. If you don’t think Bama would give us major problems right now you are simply not being honest with yourself. Fortunately, we don’t play them tomorrow. Maybe they have peaked too soon? Maybe things we’ll be different if we both make it to the SECCG? Those are definite possibilities. I sure hope it turns out like that.

Relax people. We’re playing Vandy tomorrow.

Contractor

September 21st, 2012
10:49 am

AltamahaDawg,

It is when he calls a draw or screen play on third and long instead of trying to get the ball down field. And quarterbacks have their reads, yes, but there are specific plays that allow certain receivers priority on the drop down list for that play.

3 Star Bennett looks like an All-Star

September 21st, 2012
10:51 am

I blame Bobo!

DawgFanInBama

September 21st, 2012
10:52 am

Bennett really reminds me of Kris Durham. The exact same build and a great work ethic.

Contractor

September 21st, 2012
10:56 am

Augustabred,

Tavarrus King said he wanted to fill the shoes of AJ Green last year and felt he was up to the challenge. I’m not comparing him to AJ Green, because rarely has there been an AJ Green anywhere else in the country, but King failed at his attempt to become a #1 receiver. He has made some nice catches, but his productivity is not there and he has too many drops. Brown would be good if he was healthy, but for the sake of football, you have to be healthy to play, it’s part of it. Achievements aren’t awarded in “what if” situations, they are based on actual production and Marlon Brown just doesn’t have enough to eclipse Michael Bennett. Mark Richt even said he has had a rough transition from high school ball to college level, so that there is more evidence to prove he’s just not there yet, though I hope he does get there. Michael Bennett is the most sure handed receiver Georgia has and it shows with the trust Aaron Murray has in him to throw his direction in times of need.

Joey

September 21st, 2012
10:58 am

Love Bennent too, Contractor, his catch vs UF with time running out in the 1st half saved that game for the Dawgs. But don’t agree he’s the “only sure handed receiver Georgia has.”

Every one of them have fewer drops than, for instance, Roddy White, who is regarded as one of the NFL’s better receivers.

Bennent is a go-to receiver in any situation, but he had 2 or 3 drops vs Mizzou. I can’t think of another UGA receiver who has more than that. Brown has a couple, but as a group, they are excellent.

LawDawg

September 21st, 2012
11:00 am

joe jenkins:

Boise State. Seriously? They looked like absolute dog s*** last night.

Also, I am certain we could beat MSU and ND at least 8 times out of 10. WVU, OU, and FSU would all be a coin flip.

Man, you are easily impressed by mediocrity, as long as it is not the team you supposedly root for.

Craig

September 21st, 2012
11:01 am

The recruiting services ranked the 6-foot-3 Bennett as a three-star prospect in high school

Funny- it’s usually our three star recruits that are the ones that are the difference makers in winning a championship- perhaps this will hold true……the 5 star recruits are usually way to full of themselves (with some noteable exceptions :)

Texas Dawg

September 21st, 2012
11:03 am

@Joe Jenkins, I’m a realist, too. I’m sold on the Dawgs, but not blind to their flaws. I watched Buffalo struggle the other night on ESPN and I couldn’t help but think about how they ran up and down the field on us and couldn’t pass gas against whoever they were playing Wednesday. So I guess I’m cautiously optimistic about ‘em. Without overlooking Vandy, I’m REALLY worried about Tennessee. People are writing them off because of last week, but the Dawgs have ALWAYS struggled against teams with strong passing attacks and the Vols receivers are legit. As for your list, I think we could beat many of the teams on the list, with the exception of ‘Bama or FSU. And West Virginia would be scary, too. But guess what? Unless and until we make the “post season,” we don’t have to play any of those guys!

DirtyDawg

September 21st, 2012
11:04 am

Before this season is over everybody, other than the naysayers of course, be calling this the finest group of receivers we’ve ever had. And I don’t agree that there aren’t any ‘great’ ones in the group. Any one of the five, if they weren’t surrounded by guys just as good, would be all SEC…and if you don’t believe it, just wait and see.

LHarding Dawg

September 21st, 2012
11:04 am

The 5 stars tend to get kicked off the team.

Flat Tire on I-95 in Jacksonville

September 21st, 2012
11:05 am

If we started recruiting more kids like Bennet who desperately want to play for Georgia and are good instead of the Ealey’s and Crowell’s who could care less about Georgia Richt might start winning big and we would stop leading in player arrests year after year

grayram

September 21st, 2012
11:06 am

Reminds me of the old Gator Chris Doering.
Doering Was a walk on at Florida and ended up in the NFL

Brainiac (CMR/UGA Fan For Life/J.Jpnes for Heisman))

September 21st, 2012
11:09 am

@ Mike Addington:(8:51 am post)

Is that the only “Negative” you could dredge up to post on a really good/positive blog???????????????????

Brainiac (CMR/UGA Fan For Life/J.Jpnes for Heisman))

September 21st, 2012
11:13 am

Bennett mostly reminds me of Chris Durham but also demonstrates some of Hines Ward’s qualities. He probably will surpass Durham with his accomplishments but Hines will be a little harder to exceed!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Brainiac (CMR/UGA Fan For Life/J.Jpnes for Heisman))

September 21st, 2012
11:18 am

@ Flat Tire:

I agree pretty much wit your comments but we can’t abandon ALL high ranked prospects!!!!

Notice how well Marshal and Gurley are working out!!!!!!!!!!!

IC and Jarvis Jones are from the same HS but are light years apart on attitude, etc. Both were 5-stars!!!!

joe jenkins

September 21st, 2012
11:22 am

Yeah we will struggle with vandy and tennessee….because they will do to us what the last three teams have did….dink and dunk us with those short intermediate 7 yard slant passes. Damn we cant stop that play……..Guy’s before the season started i thought we would have the defense,I always dreamed of…and it hasn’t worked out like that so far. I know we are missing key players…but others have not stepped up…and yall disneys know this

Contractor

September 21st, 2012
11:24 am

Joey,

Let’s wait until the season is over and then we’ll calculate the drops and I guarantee that my comments will make more sense (not just using one game to make an argument). I hope I am wrong and that all of the receivers catch 100% of the balls thrown their way and go for 1,000 yards a piece, but I know that will not happen and I feel as if Michael Bennett will come out in the end with more catches and more yards. He’s not going to burn anyone down the sideline, so I won’t say he’ll have the most touchdowns, but I feel as if he will take two out of the three categories over the rest or the receiving corps.

Flat Tire on I-95 in Jacksonville

September 21st, 2012
11:24 am

Braniac

Has nothing to do with the 5 star thing

A 3 star recruit thats wants to be at UGA and win is much better than a 5 star recruit that could care less whether UGA does well

I think I remember Lindsey Scott talking about the same thing Im saying its time for Georgia to recruit players that want to be at UGA and win oh and go out and start beating FL I do know he said that last statement

kingdaddy

September 21st, 2012
11:29 am

David Pollack, ***3***

Flat Tire on I-95 in Jacksonville

September 21st, 2012
11:32 am

kingdaddy

Thomas Davis was a 3 star

ARdawg

September 21st, 2012
11:35 am

dawgfan
Not so fast my friend. Yes they are good, not unbeatable. they put their panties on, one leg at a time just like everyone else. Nobody thought they would get beat anytime in the last 3 years, they have, they will get beat again. Are they in Nov form right now? Maybe, maybe not, maybe they’ll be better in Nov than they are now.

When the wheat is separated from the chafe, Bama hasn’t played any teams but hype at this point either Michigan? Arkansas? Really? I’m not ready to crown them champs yet. Am I a homer? Maybe but, I do think Georgia will has something to do with it

TallaDawg

September 21st, 2012
11:38 am

@joe jenkins 9:43 – I know UGa could beat FSU; Ihave watched them play. As for the others I would bet (if legal) that they would beat all of the others except maybe Alabama, and even beating Bama is not totally improbable. Just my (as a DAWG) honest opinion.

kingdaddy

September 21st, 2012
11:41 am

Watch Shawn Williams have another huge game. He played like his hair was on fire last week. If he has another good game and Cummings has the kinks out, look for Mitchell to make a pick while Jarvis wrecks the Vandy backfield. Also look for the LBs to have a strong game and force Vandy to pass. Need to hold the middle with outside pressure other than Jarvis. I think Grantham circled this game on his calender…

BG

September 21st, 2012
11:41 am

Fast white boy!

kingdaddy

September 21st, 2012
11:44 am

Flats
TD…I love a Saftey that will instill fear like he did. Thomas Davis was a motivated hitting machine and a DGD…

Flat Tire on I-95 in Jacksonville

September 21st, 2012
11:45 am

Lets be realistic here

If Georgia’s defensive line doesnt stop getting pushed around by teams especially what they have played against so far, I dont even want to see what Bama’s offensive line will do to us

Scotty

September 21st, 2012
11:46 am

Michael Bennett is bad…bad…man! I agree with Tavarres King this kid is going to be great and will shatter ever receiving record at Georgia. I grew up in Roswell and Milton (Alpharetta) is our biggest rival. I saw this guy play high school ball and remember how impressive he was and also remember wishing he would wind up with a bulldawg uniform on! Keep up the great work Michael…you da man!

Chris Mike

September 21st, 2012
11:48 am

I agree if you coach your 3 star player he will produce like a 4 or 5 star. If you looked at last year draft class its was mostly dominated by 3 and 4 star recruits. So what that telling you, 5 star players are to pre madonas. Alot of high school sell those 5 star recruits and the big evaluaters such as espn:etc… fall for it. You know what I do, I go by the eye test, that why NFL teams like Pittsburg and New England always in the Champoinship. Trucst me on this Bennet probaly won’t get dradt high, but he will play a decade for some NFL Team. Look at Massiqua

tell me again

September 21st, 2012
11:49 am

Look. Isaiah C. said last year that although he had a lot of natural talent, he wasn’t in love with football. The kid is a natural but he’s admitted he can take it or leave it. Seems a waste to us but that’s his choice and if he’s not looking to make a living out of it, so what. None of our business. Every decision in life is not based on the mighty dollar. If he likes to play the game but can take it or leave it, good for him.

Joey

September 21st, 2012
11:53 am

The only thing we can guage about this Dawg team, is that we are 3-0. I just hope we get to 4-0. Vandy will be equally motivated, and will battle for 4 quarters. If they are able to pressure Murray, we will be in for a long night. Bobo better be prepared for that – practice screen passes and draws. By the way, I wonder why we don’t use the shovel pass – we did a good bit with Greene and Stafford.

Anyway, Vandy gave SC all they could handle. That should be enough to end talk of a blowout tomorrow night.

RK

September 21st, 2012
11:57 am

I’m not yet convinced that Clemson won’t beat FSU Saturday.

Gman

September 21st, 2012
12:02 pm

Drops too many balls!

MB is a Good Kid

September 21st, 2012
12:03 pm

In terms of character, this is a great kid. I had the pleasure of teaching him at AHS, and can attest to his perseverance, positive attitude, and strong work ethic.

joe jenkins

September 21st, 2012
12:09 pm

Idk if we can even beat tennessee….much less any of those teams i stated….Our defense still lacks a good DE. We still lack a hard hitting safety….Hopefully malcom mitchell will turn out to be a great CB…a definte must if we are able to jump that final hurdle and become an elite defense

Flat Tire on I-95 in Jacksonville

September 21st, 2012
12:13 pm

Clemson beat FSU

LOL

I would be stunned

They barely beat the trailer trash from Auburn and they look really good this year dont they

I-DOG

September 21st, 2012
12:14 pm

I think Vandy’s best gameplan is to show a lot of press man coverage and try to get a little pressure on the QB and bait us into throwing the ball deep. We might be successful and score a lot of points, but we might also punt the ball a lot and not have sustained drives with those low percenage throws and then hope that you can wear down our defense by running a lot of plays against them and get the game to the 4th quarter. Then maybe a turnover or big special teams play could make the difference.

Oh, and I would absolutely have a fake punt, onsides kick, or fake field goal practiced this week. Unless Samuel sheds 3 blockers again and blows it up, Vandy has a good chance to execute something like this.

I would try to induce Georgia to throw the deep ball OFTEN on 3rd and 3 or 3rd and 5 and try to get them in a low percentage throw and get my D off the field. It is a high risk strategy, to be sure. You have to try to get a little pressure and hope that Murray is having a mediocre day, but I sure wouldn’t let #3 beat me. I wouldn’t want to come up with a gameplan that involved baiting Georgia into handing it to #3 20-25 times as that is the surest way for Vandy to lose.

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