When Coach Bobby Johnson continued to recruit Earl Bennett even after he had committed to Kentucky, he probably didn’t realize the dividends that choice would pay. Three years later, Bennett stands as the SEC’s all-time leading receiver and, more importantly, a mature and intelligent individual.

“It goes without saying that Earl Bennett was a fantastic football player for us, a fantastic ambassador for Vanderbilt football,” Johnson said. “You go through and you look at the way he has represented our program, you couldn’t ask any more from Earl Bennett.”

On Thursday, Bennett announced his intentions to enter the NFL draft. His contributions on the field have been well documented. Less known is how much Bennett has grown as a human being, a student and a leader. He leaves Vanderbilt prepared for adulthood.

“For a while I thought Earl only knew two words: yes sir,” Johnson said. “Obviously that’s not true. He’s very smart. He’s a great student for us. It was fun getting to know Earl, and that’s what you have to do.”

In the classroom, Bennett is an accomplished student. He finished with a 3.25 in the fall semester and is close to receiving his degree in Secondary Education. His parents set the rule that he must finish his degree regardless whether he decided to stay at Vanderbilt or leave early. It was Bennett’s mother who required the most convincing. Perhaps it was the extensive thought process that showed Bennett’s sensibility.

“I actually had to sell her a lot on this one,” Bennett said. “That’s all she kept saying. I am going to get my degree. I’m going to sit down with coach Johnson and with our counselor [Elizabeth Wright] to make sure I receive my degree within a year and a half and not put it off.”

Too often, athletes leave school, opting for a pay day over an education. It is apparent that was not the case for Bennett.

“His siblings all finished high school, went to college and finished college,” Sarah Bennett, his mother, said. “He’s got a brother working on his master’s. Earl knows it’s very important.”

Perhaps it was that support system that included his family, Johnson and the rest of the coaching staff, his teammates, friends and faith that made his decision more comfortable.

For Johnson, the important thing was to keep his interests as coach out of the equation and to focus on his role as a mentor and advisor.

“When you see a family trying to make a decision, you realize that you can’t be selfish,” Johnson said. “You’ve got to go with what’s best for the young man and the family. It was tough. For a minute there we all just had to sit down and say, ‘Hey, whatever happens is going to be great. Whether he comes back and plays another year or not, it’s going to be great.’”

And while she may have had her doubts about the NFL, Bennett’s mother was all smiles on Thursday afternoon.

“It’s a proud day to see my son, my baby, do what he has wanted to do,” she said.