Kirby Smart explains decision to start Stetson Bennett, praises defense in Florida win

Kirby Smart pointed to the main reason he started QB Stetson Bennett over JT Daniels against Florida on Saturday, and it had to do with practice time. Smart, who earlier in the week said that practice availability and performance would dictate the decision, said he chose continuity.

Georgia got 3 turnovers, and scored 20 points off of them in the 34-7 victory in Jacksonville. It was the final 2:16 of the first half that turned the tine in Georgia’s favor as the Bulldogs got 2 interceptions and a fumble to build a huge lead at halftime.

Here’s a sampling of what Smart told the media after the game:

Kirby Smart said “continuity” was the biggest reason that Stetson Bennett started. JT Daniels only started practicing in full this past week.

“We went with the guy that’s been out there the most, and been practicing the most,” Smart said.

— Seth Emerson (@SethWEmerson) October 30, 2021

Kirby Smart: “We felt like (JT Daniels) could play if he needed to”

— Ryan Kerley (@RyanCKerley) October 30, 2021

Kirby Smart: “It makes it easy to win when you get three or four turnovers”

— Ryan Kerley (@RyanCKerley) October 30, 2021

Kirby Smart: “It was a game of momentum.”

— Lance McCurley (@lancemccurley) October 30, 2021

Smart was asked about Nolan Smith’s comment about this year’s game being “personal.”

“For me, it wasn’t about that.”

— Lance McCurley (@lancemccurley) October 30, 2021

“If you don’t recruit, then you don’t have a chance. You should always be recruiting because if you don’t, someone else is.”#UGA coach Kirby Smart on being an elite recruiter.

— Matt Murschel (@osmattmurschel) October 30, 2021