Reactions pour in the aftermath of Georgia football's spring game

USA Today

14-04-2025

Reactions pour in the aftermath of Georgia football's spring game
The Georgia Bulldogs' annual spring football scrimmage was not televised, but that did not stop Georgia football fans, analysts and former players from weighing in on the spring game.
Over 35,000 Georgia fans watched as the Red Team (first-string offense) defeated the Black Team (first-string defense) 34-17. The 2025 edition of Georgia football looked pretty good with redshirt junior quarterback Gunner Stockton making his first career first-team G-Day start.
The toughest part of spring games is determining if something was a good play by the offense (or defense) or a missed assignment.
"Some good and bad for both, but that's the way spring games go," said Georgia head coach Kirby Smart after the game. "We got to play some loose plays, throw the ball around, got to do some two-minute. Excited about the guys that got to play. We've got a lot of work to do in terms of offseason and getting ourselves where we need to be for next year, but a lot of the mid-years got valuable minutes. I can remember when mid-years kind of went with the threes and fours, and now it seems like more of them are going with the twos."
Georgia does not return as much experienced depth this year. Georgia lost a significant amount of talent to the NFL draft and a few critical pieces to the transfer portal.
What were Georgia football experts and former players saying after the spring game?
Analyst names Georgia's standouts
"Biggest standouts for me today, in no particular order: Chris Cole, Chauncey Bowens, Colbie Young, Joseph Jonah-Ajonye, Elijah Griffin, London Humphreys," said Rivals analyst Jed May. We put several of these players among are G-Day winners and losers list, but also added linebacker Justin Williams.
You can't put too much weight into a spring game. It is just one scrimmage, but Georgia's linebacker room and wide receivers room certainly looked good.
Statistical leaders from Georgia's spring game
Former Georgia WR disagrees with fans
Former Georgia great wide receiver Terrence Edwards is the head coach at Mount Vernon High School in Georgia. He has helped train a few wide receivers on the UGA team, but disagrees with a lot of the takes that fans have.
"I enjoyed watching my Dawgs play yesterday, but Some of the things I heard from fans were ridiculous," said Edwards. "I'm convinced that 90% of fans do not understand football. If I hear someone say why are we running the ball up the up the middle one more time, I am going to explode."
Georgia never has and never will use its full playbook during a spring game. Georgia's recent spring games tend to be very pass heavy. The 2025 game featured 88 pass plays and 44 rush plays (includes scrambles and sacks).
Buck Belue talks UGA QB gunner Stockton
Stockton completed 17 of 34 passes for 309 yards and threw two touchdowns and one interception. He completed several deep balls in the second half, which former Georgia quarterback Buck Belue also appreciated.
Stockton looked comfortable in the Georgia offense, but the Dawgs still have some significant concerns in the trenches on both sides of the ball.
Former Georgia QB evaluates Ryan Puglisi
"(Ryan) Puglisi looked comfortable today," said former Georgia football national championship winning quarterback Buck Belue. "I left impressed with his skills. Polished passer. Effective out of the pocket. Poised. Positive first impression!"
Puglisi completed 23 of 49 passes for 224 passing yards, two touchdowns and one interception in his first ever spring game appearance. He appears to be set as UGA's clear back up quarterback.