Among the four 2022 Heisman Trophy finalists, Georgia quarterback Stetson Bennett is the most distinguished of the group. At least, in terms of age.
The Bulldogs signal-caller is the oldest player at the Heisman ceremony in New York, well into his mid-20s. Should he come away with college football's top individual honor, he would become one of the oldest to ever win the award.
Here's another way of contextualizing how hold Bennett is, courtesy of UGASports' Dayne Young:
2016: Lamar Jackson wins the Heisman Trophy
— Dayne Young (@dayneyoung) December 6, 2022
2022: Stetson Bennett is a Heisman finalist
They were both born in 1997.
The stark difference in Bennett's age with his fellow finalists — plus the comparison between him and Jackson — has naturally generated interest in his age. With that, The Sporting News has everything you need to know about Bennett's age, how it compares to Jackson's and where the Georgia signal-caller would rank among the oldest Heisman Trophy winner:
Stetson Bennett age
Bennett is 25 years old, having been born on Oct. 28, 1997.
Here's how Bennett came to challenge for the Heisman midway through his 20s: He graduated Pierce County High School (Blackshear, Ga.) in the class of 2017, enrolling at Georgia for the 2017 season. He walked on to the team as a member of the scout team, and did not take a snap all season. He earned Offensive Scout Team Player of the Year at Georgia.
The following season, 2018, he transferred to Jones County Junior College (Ellisville, Miss.), leading Jones to a 10-2 overall record, Mississippi Bowl win and the MACJC conference championship game.
In 2019, Bennett transferred back to Georgia, this time playing in five of 14 games behind Jake Fromm as a redshirt freshman. In 2020 Bennett, (then a redshirt sophomore), started five of the Bulldogs' games amid an 8-2 season. Because the season was affected by COVID-19, the year did not count against Bennett's eligibility.
Bennett finally took over as the full-time starter in 2021, a season in which he led the Bulldogs to a 14-1 season and College Football Playoff championship. He returned for one final season in 2022, a choice that has yielded another CFP berth and a season worthy at least of a trip to New York for the Heisman Trophy ceremony.
BENDER: The case for and against each 2022 Heisman Trophy finalist, from Stetson Bennett to Caleb Williams
Stetson Bennett vs. Lamar Jackson
Bennett is in contention for the Heisman in his age-25 year at Georgia.
To compare, Jackson is currently 25 years old ... in his fifth NFL season with the Baltimore Ravens. He won the Heisman in 2016 as a 19-year-old sophomore, and is just nine months and 21 days older than his Georgia counterpart.
The former Louisville signal-caller, of course, is still the youngest to ever win the Heisman. The 2017 season was his final at Louisville: He entered the 2018 NFL Draft, where he became the 32nd overall pick by the Baltimore Ravens.
Oldest Heisman Trophy winners
Bennett would be one of the oldest were he to win the Heisman Trophy. But not the oldest — he would still trail the player who holds that distinction. Former Florida State quarterback Chris Weinke is the oldest Heisman Trophy recipient, winning the award in 2000 at 28 years old.
Here are the five oldest Heisman Trophy winners of all time:
| Player | Year won | Age |
|---|---|---|
| Florida State QB Chris Weinke | 2000 | 28 years, 131 days |
| Oklahoma RB Billy Sims | 1978 | 23 years, 78 days |
| Ohio State HB/QB Les Horvath | 1944 | 23 years, 52 days |
| Notre Dame QB Angelo Bertelli | 1942 | 22 years, 167 days |
| Yale HB Clinton Frank | 1937 | 22 years, 79 days |
MORE: Heisman Trophy finalists 2022-- Meet the four candidates for college football's top award
Youngest Heisman Trophy winners
Jackson is the youngest Heisman winner in college football history, but by a considerably smaller margin than Weinke's record as oldest Heisman recipient. Indeed, two other players, Alabama's Mark Ingram II and Florida State's Jameis Winston, were both 19 when they won the award.
Here are the five youngest Heisman recipients in college football history:
| Player | Year won | Age |
|---|---|---|
| Louisville QB Lamar Jackson | 2016 | 19 years, 337 days |
| Florida State QB Jameis Winston | 2013 | 19 years, 342 days |
| Alabama RB Mark Ingram II | 2009 | 19 years, 356 days |
| Colorado RB Rashaan Salaam | 1994 | 20 years, 63 days |
| Ohio State RB Archie Griffin | 1974 | 20 years, 104 days |
