Todd Monken respects Stetson Bennett as much as anyone because the Georgia offensive coordinator recalls how Bennett fought back from early treatment by the Georgia staff.

Monken spoke at a Peach Bowl press conference on Wednesday ahead of the Ohio State game on Saturday and noted how it’s a complete credit to Bennett, and nothing due to Monken.

“All we did was try to bury him for the couple of years he was here, and all he did was continue to fight and compete and had every reason to say, you know what, I’m gone in today’s day and age in the portal and guys leaving. He didn’t do that. He wanted to be a Georgia Bulldog, wanted to be the quarterback for the Georgia Bulldogs,” Monken said.

“You know, I think that we’ve come out the other side probably better collectively,” he said. “He’s very prideful, and we wouldn’t be where we’re at without him. And collectively we’ve improved. I’ve done a better job of coaching him. He’s done a better job of accepting that part of it. He always had talent, always had ability. We talked about it last year getting ready for Michigan. You know, there was a back and forth about Stetson and J.T., and all I said was just look at the film. Just look at the film and the plays he’s made. And even this year, look at the plays that he’s made to get us where we’re at. And sometimes you don’t always make the right decision. You know, we’re human, too, in terms of who we play. And then you gotta reverse course and say you know what, we’re wrong, this is the guy.”