How Stetson Bennett IV almost wound up playing for Florida coach Billy Napier

Georgia football hero Stetson Bennett IV nearly played for new Florida head coach Billy Napier.

If not for Kirby Smart, Stetson Bennett IV might have played for Billy Napier instead.

Yes, there was a time before “The Mailman” became a Georgia football legend where he nearly played for the new Florida head coach. Bennett initially walked on at Georgia before transferring to Jones Community College in Mississippi back in 2018. Ahead of the 2019 college football season, Napier was among those trying to recruit him to his school. Napier was at Louisiana at that time.

However, one phone call from Georgia made sure Bennett was coming back to Athens in 2019.

"“I did, I woke up that morning planning on signing there (Louisiana). But, I got a phone call from the University of Georgia,” said Bennett."

This scholarship at the University of Georgia Bennett decided to accept only came about after Justin Fields decided to transfer to Ohio State after his freshman season with the team. Rather than head to Lafayette to go play for Napier, Bennett discussed with his parents about possibly returning to Georgia. Bennett came back ahead of the 2019 campaign, and the rest is history.

"“It was a big decision so I had to talk to my parents, coaches and then I decided later in the day,” said Bennett. “I really didn’t go about my business the way I should have the first time I was here, working every day, learning the playbook well enough. Looking back, I thought I was good enough to play here talent-wise, but I didn’t really do enough myself to be as good as I could be. I realized that and the fact that this was home.”"

With Napier now the Florida football head coach, he will face off against Bennett on Oct. 29.

Stetson Bennett IV nearly played for Billy Napier while he was with Louisiana

It is always funny how things work out. Bennett grew up wanting to play Between the Hedges. While his pathway to college football stardom is both as rewarding as it is unprecedented, odds are, he would have had a great deal of success playing for Napier at Louisiana. Like Smart, Napier is a Nick Saban protege. Prior to taking over in Florida, he built Louisiana into a Group of Five beast.

Though nobody could have ever guessed Bennett would be the first Georgia quarterback since Buck Belue to win a national championship, Napier was destined for his own Power Five gig after receiving the Saban treatment previously. Depending on how things go for him in Gainesville, Napier could end up on a shortlist of candidates who could replace his mentor in Tuscaloosa.

As for Bennett, the super duper senior is enjoying his final season of collegiate eligibility. He is the unquestioned starting quarterback for the defending national champions. The Georgia offense could be more explosive than it has been in years with Bennett fully at the helm running Todd Monken’s scheme. As for Napier, he has an immense talent in Anthony Richardson for the Gators.

While they could have been Ragin’ Cajuns together, the stars did not align for Bennett and Napier.

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