Jake Bentley Explained

Jake Bentley
Current Title:Quarterbacks coach/Co-offensive coordinator/Passing game coordinator
Current Team:Rock Hill HS (SC)
Birth Date:23 November 1997
Birth Place:Duncan, South Carolina, U.S.
Player Team1:South Carolina
Player Years1:2016–2019
Player Team2:Utah
Player Years2:2020
Player Team3:South Alabama
Player Years3:2021
Player Positions:Quarterback
Coach Years1:2022
Coach Team1:Florida Atlantic (GA)
Coach Years2:2023
Coach Team2:North Alabama (QB)
Coach Years3:2024–present
Coach Team3:Rock Hill HS (SC) (QB/co-OC/PGC)

Jacob Lane Bentley (born November 23, 1997) is an American football coach and former player who is currently the quarterbacks coach, co-offensive coordinator and passing game coordinator at Rock Hill High School in Rock Hill, South Carolina. Bentley played college football for the South Carolina Gamecocks, the Utah Utes, and the South Alabama Jaguars.[1]

Early years

Bentley attended James F. Byrnes High School in Duncan, South Carolina as a freshman, where his father, Bobby Bentley, had been the head coach.[2] He transferred to Opelika High School in Opelika, Alabama, after his father took a coaching role with the Auburn Tigers. As a junior, he passed for 2,834 yards and 28 touchdowns. Bentley reclassified and graduated early after his junior season after his father became a coach for the South Carolina Gamecocks.[3] [4] [5] He committed to the University of South Carolina to play college football.[6] [7]

College career

South Carolina

2016 season

Bentley entered his true freshman year at South Carolina in 2016 as a redshirt behind starters Perry Orth and Brandon Mcllwain. After the Gamecocks started the season with a 2–4 record, Bentley's redshirt was removed. He made his first career start against UMass. The following week he led the Gamecocks to an upset victory over nationally ranked Tennessee and retained the starting quarterback position after that.[8] [9] He finished the season completing 125 of 190 passes for 1,420 yards, nine touchdowns and four interceptions.[10]

2017

In 2017, Bentley started every game at quarterback for the Gamecocks, leading the team to a 9–4 record, including a come-from-behind victory over Michigan in the Outback Bowl on January 1, 2018. Bentley finished the season with 2,794 yards passing, throwing for 18 touchdowns and rushing for 6.

2018

Bentley started the first four games for the Gamecocks in 2018, compiling a 2–2 record with seven touchdowns and six interceptions.[11] On October 6, 2018, Bentley missed his first start since his freshman year after sustaining a knee sprain in the previous week's loss to Kentucky.[12] Senior Michael Scarnecchia started in his place, leading the Gamecocks to a 37–35 win over Missouri. Bentley's roommate Parker White kicked the game-winning field goal with two seconds left.[13]

On November 24, 2018, Bentley set the South Carolina single-game passing record when he threw for 510 yards in a 56–35 loss to undefeated, second-ranked, and eventual National Champion Clemson at Death Valley.[14]

2019

Bentley was named starting quarterback for the 2019 season, but suffered a foot injury in the first game of the season, the 2019 Belk Kickoff Game against North Carolina. As a result, he was benched and freshman quarterback Ryan Hilinski was named the starting quarterback.[15] On September 8, 2019, it was reported that Bentley would have season-ending surgery on his foot.[16] At the end of the 2019 season, Bentley announced he would be transferring schools for his last year of eligibility.[17] On December 9, Bentley announced that he would be transferring to the University of Utah for the 2020 season.

Utah

2020

Bentley was originally announced as the backup quarterback for the 2020 season, behind Texas transfer Cameron Rising, but after Rising was injured in the season opener against USC, Bentley was named the starter for the remaining games. Bentley completed 62 percent of his passes in his season with the Utes.

Following the season finale against Washington State, in which Bentley threw an interception in the second quarter and was benched in favor of walk-on Drew Lisk, Bentley, for the second time in his collegiate career, entered the NCAA Transfer Portal.[18]

South Alabama

2021

On January 7, 2021, Bentley announced that he would be playing his final season at the University of South Alabama.[19] He appeared in ten games for the Jaguars, throwing for 2,476 yards, 17 touchdowns, and 8 interceptions.

Statistics

YearTeamGamesPassing
G GS Cmp Att Pct Yards TD Int Rtg
South Carolina7 7 125 190 65.8 1,420 9 4 140.0
South Carolina13 13 245 394 62.4 2,794 18 12 130.7
South Carolina12 12 240 388 61.9 3,171 27 14 146.3
South Carolina1 1 16 30 53.3 142 1 2 90.8
Utah5 4 77 124 62.1 882 6 6 128.1
South Alabama10 10 212 303 70.0 2,476 17 8 151.8
Career 48 47 915 1429 64.0 10885 78 46 131.3

Coaching career

Florida Atlantic

In early 2022, it was announced that Bentley was joining the Florida Atlantic football program as a graduate assistant, working with head coach Willie Taggart.[20]

North Alabama

On December 8, 2022, he was announced as the quarterbacks coach at North Alabama.[21]

Rock Hills High School (SC)

On May 3, 2024, Bentley was hired by Rock Hill High School in South Carolina as their quarterbacks coach, co-offensive coordinator and passing game coordinator.[22] [23]

Personal life

His stepbrother Chas Dodd played quarterback at Rutgers and is now a graduate assistant strength and conditioning coach at the University of Miami.[24] [25] [26]

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: South Carolina QB Jake Bentley transferring to Utah. ESPN. December 9, 2019. December 9, 2019.
  2. Web site: Meet the Bentleys: South Carolina Gamecocks' first family of football. Cloninger. David. June 16, 2018. The Post and Courier. Evening Post Industries. en. July 31, 2019.
  3. Web site: For quarterback Jake Bentley, an unusual route from high school to USC. Caraviello. David. October 24, 2016. The Post and Courier. Evening Post Industries. en. July 31, 2019.
  4. Web site: The story behind Jake Bentley's early arrival at USC. Smith III. Willie T.. October 24, 2016. The Greenville News. Gannett. en. July 31, 2019.
  5. Web site: Antonio. Morales. What JT Daniels can learn from other college QBs who arrived a year early. July 16, 2018. The Athletic. subscription. March 9, 2023. And Jake Bentley reclassified into the 2016 recruiting class (from ’17) and enrolled at South Carolina, where he became the starting quarterback midway through his freshman season..
  6. Web site: High school junior QB Jake Bentley to join South Carolina for 2016 season. Tyson. Derek. April 6, 2016. ESPN. en. July 31, 2019.
  7. Four-star QB Jake Bentley commits to South Carolina. March 24, 2016. Sports Illustrated. en. July 31, 2019.
  8. Web site: Jake Bentley shows promise in South Carolina debut. Khan Jr.. Sam. October 26, 2016. ESPN. en. July 31, 2019.
  9. Web site: In a rebuilding season, Jake Bentley restored hope to USC. Connolly. Matt. December 23, 2016. The State. McClatchy. September 10, 2019.
  10. Web site: Jake Bentley confident Gamecocks will take next steps in 2017. McLemore. Dwayne. February 1, 2017. The State. McClatchy. September 10, 2019.
  11. Web site: Jake Bentley Stats. ESPN. October 6, 2018.
  12. Web site: Michael Scarnecchia expected to start at QB for Gamecocks vs. Missouri. Kendall. Josh. October 5, 2018. The State. McClatchy. October 6, 2018.
  13. Web site: Scarnecchia saves South Carolina from Mother Nature and Missouri. Kendall. Josh. October 6, 2018. The State. McClatchy. October 6, 2018.
  14. Web site: Jake Bentley makes statement for the history books. Did it help big-game reputation?. Breiner. Ben. November 25, 2018. The State. McClatchy. November 26, 2018.
  15. Web site: Hilinski to start for Gamecocks, Bentley out indefinitely. Del Bianco. John. September 2, 2019. 247Sports.com. en-US. 2019-09-06.
  16. Web site: Jake Bentley to have surgery, miss the rest of the season. Bilodeau. Kevin. September 8, 2019. WCSC-TV. September 11, 2019.
  17. Web site: Jake Bentley announces plans for 2020. Del Bianco. John. December 2, 2019. 247Sports.com. en-US. 2019-12-02.
  18. Web site: Newman . Josh . Utah football QB Jake Bentley, three others enter NCAA Transfer Portal . The Salt Lake Tribune . 27 December 2020.
  19. Web site: Spencer . Adam . Former South Carolina QB Jake Bentley announces transfer destination after leaving Utah . Saturday Down South . 7 January 2021.
  20. Web site: 2022-01-20 . Jake Bentley announces start of his coaching career as a graduate assistant . 2022-05-04 . Saturday Down South . en-US.
  21. Web site: Jake Bentley to coach quarterbacks at UNA. RoarLions.com. 2022-12-08. 2022-12-08.
  22. Web site: Former Gamecocks quarterback to coach in Palmetto State. 247Sports. Hale. McGranahan. May 3, 2024. July 22, 2024.
  23. Web site: Former Gamecocks QB accepts in-state high school assistant coaching job. The State. Lou. Bezjak. May 3, 2024. July 22, 2024.
  24. Web site: Chas Dodd, Rutgers, Dual-Threat Quarterback. 247Sports.com. en-US. July 31, 2019.
  25. Web site: South Carolina QB Jake Bentley Is Pioneering a New Fast Track to the NFL. Hayes. Matt. September 29, 2017. Bleacher Report. en. July 31, 2019.
  26. Web site: Bobby Bentley's son leaving Gamecocks strength staff, joining former USC assistant. News & Observer. May 15, 2019. December 9, 2019.