Jake Bentley Poised for Grand Finale
By BJ Bennett \ June 12, 2019
SouthernPigskin.com
Statistics are just the starting point when it comes to Bentley's clout in Columbia.
Having already made his mark, South Carolina quarterback Jake Bentley is on the verge of making history. With 7,385 passing yards to date, he needs only 2,618 more to join the likes of Aaron Murray, Danny Wuerffel and the Manning brothers and become just the 10th SEC quarterback ever to reach 10,000 career yards; Bentley threw for 3,171 in 2018. The rising senior is already prominently featured on many of the Gamecocks' all-time lists. He, with a schedule for the ages upcoming, is poised to add to those totals, and his legacy, this fall.
Bentley, entering what he hopes will be a grand finale, has helped lead South Carolina to three consecutive postseason berths, earning Outback Bowl MVP honors as a sophomore. With a 19-13 record as a starter, he is merely one win away from becoming the sixth Gamecock signal caller to win 20 games. More than just that milestone appears to be on the horizon. Fresh off one of the most productive seasons South Carolina has ever seen, throwing 27 touchdown passes, Bentley's shadow is only growing entering his final year.
Even with some volatility, Bentley's recent numbers put him in rare company a season ago. So, too, does his experience. For frame of reference, the only returning Power Five quarterbacks who threw for a minimum of 3,170 passing yards and 27 touchdowns last year are: Bentley, Stanford's K.J. Costello, Clemson's Trevor Lawrence and Alabama's Tua Tagovailoa. In fact, Bentley, counting yardage compiled while at a P5 school, is the highest level's active passing leader. (CLICK TO VIEW FULL ARTICLE)
By BJ Bennett \ June 12, 2019
SouthernPigskin.com
Statistics are just the starting point when it comes to Bentley's clout in Columbia.
Having already made his mark, South Carolina quarterback Jake Bentley is on the verge of making history. With 7,385 passing yards to date, he needs only 2,618 more to join the likes of Aaron Murray, Danny Wuerffel and the Manning brothers and become just the 10th SEC quarterback ever to reach 10,000 career yards; Bentley threw for 3,171 in 2018. The rising senior is already prominently featured on many of the Gamecocks' all-time lists. He, with a schedule for the ages upcoming, is poised to add to those totals, and his legacy, this fall.
Bentley, entering what he hopes will be a grand finale, has helped lead South Carolina to three consecutive postseason berths, earning Outback Bowl MVP honors as a sophomore. With a 19-13 record as a starter, he is merely one win away from becoming the sixth Gamecock signal caller to win 20 games. More than just that milestone appears to be on the horizon. Fresh off one of the most productive seasons South Carolina has ever seen, throwing 27 touchdown passes, Bentley's shadow is only growing entering his final year.
Even with some volatility, Bentley's recent numbers put him in rare company a season ago. So, too, does his experience. For frame of reference, the only returning Power Five quarterbacks who threw for a minimum of 3,170 passing yards and 27 touchdowns last year are: Bentley, Stanford's K.J. Costello, Clemson's Trevor Lawrence and Alabama's Tua Tagovailoa. In fact, Bentley, counting yardage compiled while at a P5 school, is the highest level's active passing leader. (CLICK TO VIEW FULL ARTICLE)
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