Taylor Bennett

Taylor Bennett (born September 12, 1985 in St. Louis, Missouri) is a college football quarterback for the Louisiana Tech Bulldogs. He began his collegiate career at Georgia Tech. He majored in International Affairs at Georgia Tech, and he will enroll as a graduate student majoring in Information Systems Security at Louisiana Tech in the fall of 2008. [cite web|url=http://ramblinwreck.cstv.com/sports/m-footbl/mtt/bennett_taylor00.html|title=Player Bio: Taylor Bennett|work=RamblinWreck.com|publisher=Georgia Tech Athletic Association|accessdate=2007-03-14]

High school

Taylor Bennett attended Lafayette High School in Wildwood, Missouri from 2000-2004.

College

Bennett was selected as the Yellow Jackets' backup quarterback before the 2004 game against the Maryland Terrapins. [cite news|first=Kyle|last=Thomason|url=http://nique.net/issues/2004-10-29/sports/4|title=Talented freshmen earn playing time, contribute|work=The Technique|date=2004-10-29|accessdate=2007-05-17] Prior to the 2007 season, he started in two games; in 2005 against the Connecticut Huskies when Reggie Ball had viral meningitis, [cite news|first=William|last=Bretherton|url=http://nique.net/issues/2005-09-30/sports/3|title=Backup Bennett steps up when called upon|work=The Technique|date=2005-09-30|accessdate=2007-05-16] [cite news|first=Nikhil|last=Joshi|url=http://www.nique.net/issues/2005-09-23/news/3|title=Viral meningitis|work=The Technique|date=2005-09-23|accessdate=2007-03-04] and in the 2007 Gator Bowl against the West Virginia Mountaineers when Reggie Ball was academically ineligible to play. [cite news|url=http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/bowls06/news/story?id=2704246|title=Georgia Tech's Ball, Scott ruled out of Gator Bowl|date=2007-12-20|accessdate=2007-03-08] At the Connecticut game, Bennett became only the second quarterback in NCAA history to complete a pass for a touchdown in his first ever collegiate play from scrimmage. The only other quarterback to do this was former Southern California quarterback Matt Leinart. In May 2007, Bennett was given a Spring Team honorable mention by The Sporting News in recognition of his outstanding performance in spring practice.Fact|date=May 2007

Bennett had a mediocre showing in Georgia Tech's 2007 season, finishing 7-6, 4-4 ACC, including a loss to Fresno State. After the 2007 season, Paul Johnson was named as Georgia Tech's new head coach. Many believed that Bennett would not fit well into Johnson's option offense, and in February 2008 Bennett announced that he planned to transfer to another school for the 2008 season. [cite news|url=http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/news/story?id=3234385|title=Bennett plans to transfer, won't play senior season at Ga. Tech|date=2008-02-06|accessdate=2008-04-19] On April 28, it was announced that Bennett would transfer to Louisiana Tech, and the NCAA would allow him to play in the 2008 season rather than sitting out a season as most transfers are required to do. [cite news|url=http://www.ajc.com/sports/content/sports/uga/stories/2008/04/28/techbennett_0429.html|title=Ex-Jackets QB leaving to become a Bulldog|date=2008-04-28|accessdate=2008-04-29]

Bennett won the starting job for the Bulldogs during 2008 fall camp. He led his new team to a victory over the Mississippi State Bulldogs of the SEC in the 2008 season opener.

References

ee also

*List of Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets Starting Quarterbacks
*2006 Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets football team
*2007 Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets football team

External links

* [http://ramblinwreck.cstv.com/sports/m-footbl/mtt/bennett_taylor00.html Player Bio] at RamblinWreck.com