Latest news with #GunnerStockton
New York Times
4 hours ago
- Sport
- New York Times
Georgia's Gunner Stockton has his skeptics, but is it too early to judge?
ATLANTA — The swagger comes out on the field, say Gunner Stockton's teammates, and only on the field. Georgia's quarterback is as quiet everywhere else as he was last week at SEC media days, when Stockton ran through the gantlet giving clipped, nondescript answers with a wide smile but nothing more. Advertisement There was at least one time, however, that Stockton showed some feeling. It was with a few local, Athens-based reporters, when one asked Stockton if he had heard what Paul Finebaum, the voice of the SEC, had said about him. Stockton nodded, still smiling, but his eyes narrowed. Oh yes, Stockton had heard Finebaum, appearing on ESPN's 'SportsCenter' in May, say: 'Gunner Stockton is not an elite quarterback. He's serviceable and that is about it.' Asked his reaction, Stockton looked at the reporter. 'It's like if somebody said you're a bad reporter. How would you take it?' he said. Stockton then shrugged. 'But I take it like anybody else,' he said. In defense of Finebaum, he's far from the only person doubting, or at least wondering, if Stockton is the answer for Georgia at quarterback. In the game and a half most of the world has only seen him play, Stockton was good at times and underwhelming at others. There is no assurance Stockton will be any good. However, the skepticism, if it's based just on that game and a half, overlooks some key points. Stockton played against Texas and Notre Dame, two of the best teams and defenses in the country. Plenty of quarterbacks, if not most, would show plenty of flaws. And yet Stockton was decent: • Thrust into the game for the second half of the SEC championship, Stockton didn't pass much (71 yards on 12-of-16 passes, with one bad interception) but was effective running with 24 yards on six rushes, especially the 8-yard scramble in overtime to set up the winning touchdown. • Then against Notre Dame in the CFP quarterfinals, Stockton did show off his arm, passing for 234 yards while completing 20 of 32 passes. He suffered from some drops, including on a deep ball, but also hit on another deep ball. While he was a third-year sophomore in 2024, Stockton had little game experience before going in. He appeared in only three games before the SEC championship, with 12 passes against Tennessee Tech and four against UMass. That was it. Advertisement Carson Beck, before inheriting the starting job for the 2023 season, had been able to get extended snaps thanks to Georgia's many blowouts, throwing 58 passes in 11 games over two seasons. 'I definitely wish he would have gotten that playing opportunity, it gives you typically more confidence going into the next year,' Georgia coach Kirby Smart said of Stockton. 'But if you had to say, OK, he could play in mop-up duty in four games or he could play really critical moments in a CFP game (and) in a SEC championship game, they're his only opportunities, that is way more valuable for him in confidence of the team (in him) than (just playing) up 21 in the fourth quarter. So he did miss a lot of those opportunities that we've had in the past. But he also got what is real time, and I think real time will pay off this year.' Officially, Smart hasn't named Stockton the starter, but bringing him to SEC media days may have said enough. And Smart went on Finebaum's show in May and called out the host for his Stockton comments, albeit in a lighthearted way: 'I'm excited, Gunner got the message.' 'Gunner got the message.' 😂 #collegefootball #georgia #football #funny ♬ original sound – SECNetwork As for how Stockton played in those two games, Smart last week downplayed it a bit by saying offensive coordinator Mike Bobo 'took care of' Stockton with some short throws early on to get confidence. However, Smart also pointed out that Stockton wasn't helped by the dropped passes or the lack of a running game. 'The best friend of a quarterback is a run game. And he didn't have a lot of that in those two games,' Smart said. 'It's really hard to run the ball against really good defenses, and so it puts a lot of pressure on the quarterback to win other ways.' To that end, Georgia added Illinois' leading rusher Josh McCray, a physical runner, to pair with dynamic sophomore Nate Frazier. Smart also said they made some offseason changes 'I don't disclose' to help the running game. Georgia also gave Stockton help in the portal: Zac Branch, the speedster from Southern California, will start in the slot, while the tall and physical Noah Thomas will give the offense the type of outside receiver it didn't have most of last year. Colbie Young, another move-the-sticks receiver, is back from suspension after his domestic violence case was resolved. Advertisement Stockton said he's been making his own offseason improvements. He worked on his footwork, especially what he said was over-striding. He also said he's been 'messing a little bit' with his release, which some Georgia fans on message boards had diagnosed as developing too slow. Pocket presence was an issue in those two games. Stockton took a 16-yard sack against Texas, and two sacks against Notre Dame, including the strip-sack in the final minute of the first half that turned the game. Asked if those were partially his fault for holding onto the ball too long, Stockton acknowledged 'I had something to do with it.' He also said the issue wasn't not being used to the speed of the game. 'It was just me,' he said. 'My fault.' Not many words. 'He's real quiet off the field, but on the field, that's when his swagger turns on,' cornerback Daylen Everette said. 'Like getting thrown into the fire in the (SEC) championship game, he wasn't really nervous. He really took advantage of his opportunity.' And led Georgia to the comeback victory. That started the flurry of personal and football feel-good stories about Stockton, about how he still drives an '80s truck, how his teammates love him. The feel-good story ended in New Orleans. This year, Stockton gets a few (presumably) warmup games: Marshall and Austin Peay. Then he will make what will be his first SEC road start, at Tennessee, and the gantlet begins. As does the judging. Finebaum, and the college football world, will be watching.
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
David Pollack sends warning about new Georgia QB
Although the Georgia Bulldogs enter this season as the defending SEC Champion and are predicted to finish second in the league behind the Texas Longhorns, but former Bulldog David Pollack sent out a warning to new Georgia starting QB Gunner Stockton. On his podcast See Ball Get Ball, Pollack says it might be a rough season for the new Bulldogs QB. "Gunner Stockton cannot lead this team back to where they were a year ago if it's the same team," said Pollack. "If they can't run the football, it's not going to happen. Like they've brought in a bunch of receivers. That's (2024) the worst rushing season Georgia's had in 20 years." Last year, the Bulldogs were near the bottom of the SEC in rushing, averaging just over 124 yards per game. "If Gunner Stockton is a guy that can play action pass and use that part of his game and they do what Georgia has done with Stetson Bennett and Carson Beck and all these guys, he absolutely can be successful. If you're going to drop back and throw the ball 30, 40 times a game and not have a run game, I don't think he they're going to be back where they were (SEC champions and College Football Playoff appearance)," said Pollack. Georgia teams in the past have been known to have great defenses and a solid running game. The few times Stockton played last season, especially during the College Football Playoff, he looked solid, but now he plays a whole SEC schedule this season, and it won't be easy. "I think Gunner's a really good player," he said. "I think he's got a really, really good arm.' But he added, "I'm 100% sure if you're not going to give him a running game, it's going to be a tough season for the Georgia offense."
USA Today
2 days ago
- Sport
- USA Today
David Pollack warns why 'tough season' could be coming for Gunner Stockton, UGA offense
The Georgia Bulldogs have been predicted to finish second in the SEC during the 2025 college football season. The media expects Georgia to fall to the Texas Longhorns in the SEC championship. One big question mark for Georgia ahead of the 2025 season is Georgia quarterback Gunner Stockton, who is entering his first year as the starter and has just one career start. Yes, Stockton helped Georgia win the 2024 SEC championship against Texas, but the 2024 version of Georgia was flawed and lost three games. College football analyst David Pollack thinks the Bulldogs have to be better surrounding Stockton than they were last season in order for Georgia to have a better season in 2025. "Gunner Stockton cannot lead this team back to where they were a year ago if it's the same team," said Pollack. "If they can't run the football, it's not going to happen. Like they've brought in a bunch of receivers. That's (2024) the worst rushing season Georgia's had in 20 years." Last year, Georgia finished as the second-worst rushing offense in the SEC (124.4 yards per game). The Bulldogs could run the ball against Texas, who had one of the nation's best defenses, but Georgia's rushing offense was not consistent or dominant enough. "If Gunner Stockton is a guy that can play action pass and use that part of his game and they do what Georgia has done with Stetson Bennett and Carson Beck and all these guys, he absolutely can be successful. If you're going to drop back and throw the ball 30, 40 times a game and not have a run game, I don't think he they're going to be back where they were (SEC champions and College Football Playoff appearance)," said Pollack. One thing Georgia has working in its favor is its schedule. The Bulldogs have a challenging SEC schedule, but Georgia opens the season with a pair of non-Power Four opponents, so Gunner Stockton and Georgia's other new starters will have a good opportunity to get experience heading into Georgia's big Week 3 game at Tennessee. "This is a team that's breaking in a bunch of new components. The interior of that offensive line, guard, center, guard, they all got drafted. Like, they're all gone. So that that's going to be a a big part of it," continued Pollack. Georgia has just one offensive lineman on the All-SEC team, so the Dawgs enter the year with some serious questions up front. Additionally, Georgia's defense had three players drafted in the first-round of the 2025 NFL draft, so Kirby Smart and Georgia lost some critical pieces on both sides of the ball. "I think Gunner's a really good player," Pollack noted. "I think he's got a really, really good arm. I would love to see him continue to grow and get better at the intermediate. I'd love to see him learn how to change pace with the football. Like he's got a big windup (in his throwing motion)." Last year, Stockton completed 45 of 64 passes for 440 yards, one touchdown and one interception. He attempted 48 of his passes against College Football Playoff opponents. "I'm 100% sure if you're not going to give him a running game, it's going to be a tough season for the Georgia offense," said Pollack.
USA Today
6 days ago
- Sport
- USA Today
Former SEC QB thinks Georgia's Gunner Stockton is being underestimated
Even though Georgia Bulldogs projected started quarterback Gunner Stockton has drawn some doubters this offseason, but there was one notable person at the SEC media days that believes he is being over scrutinized. SEC Network analyst and former Vanderbilt Commodores quarterback Jordan Rodgers had some words that can have Georgia fans hopeful. "I just think people are really underestimating how talented Gunner Stockton actually is," Rodgers said. "Probably because he sat behind Carson Beck who is one of the most gifted throwers in the country. Like he is a dual-threat guy, he is a legitimate threat to run the football. And I think in that Sugar Bowl, he played good enough to win that game. His offensive line couldn't block anybody, his receivers let him down over and over again. He continued, under pressure, to work the ball in tight windows. I think a lot of people are overlooking just how good Gunner Stockton is." In his first collegiate start, after replacing the injured Carson Beck after the SEC Championship, Stockton delivered a strong performance against Notre Dame, throwing for 234 yards and a touchdown while completing 62.5% of his passes. Now with a full season ahead, Stockton has a chance to make sure that his doubters and prove people like Jordan Rodgers right. Stockton will have a couple of weeks to adjust to starting where he'll play against a pair of non-Power Four opponents to start the season before playing at Tennessee in Week 3. Follow UGAWire on Instagram or Threads for more UGA football coverage!
The Herald Scotland
16-07-2025
- Sport
- The Herald Scotland
SEC power rankings: Texas, Georgia top college football's best league
The SEC is poised to reclaim its perch atop the Bowl Subdivision. That starts with the one-two punch of Texas and Georgia, which met in last year's conference title game and are the favorites to do so again this December. But that's not all the SEC will bring to the College Football Playoff race. There's also Alabama, which may be undervalued at this point as a title contender, and there's LSU, which might end up having the league's offense. And don't count out teams such as Florida, Oklahoma, Tennessee, Mississippi and more. These teams may not win the SEC, but several will be in the mix for an at-large playoff berth deep into November. With media days this week in Atlanta, here's how USA TODAY Sports projects the SEC from top to bottom: 1. Texas The Arch Manning era begins with the Longhorns as the favorites in the SEC and maybe the team to beat for the national title. There's a loaded roster, a supremely talented new quarterback and the motivation to take the next step forward after coming up short against Ohio State in last season's national semifinals. 2. Georgia Georgia feels much closer to Texas than to Alabama, illustrating the gap between these two SEC favorites and the rest of the pack. (And the rest of the pack is pretty good.) The biggest question for the Bulldogs asks how Gunner Stockton fares as the full-time starter after he gained valuable experience over the final two games of 2024. BEST TO WORST: Ranking all 16 SEC college football stadiums 3. Alabama It won't hurt to have slightly lower expectations and a somewhat softer spotlight on Kalen DeBoer and the Crimson Tide after winning nine games in his debut. Ty Simpson is expected to take over under center and will operate behind a very strong offensive line with plenty of weapons at his disposal. The defense is best in the front seven. Overall, this is a very talented team capable of winning the SEC and the national title. 4. LSU The pressure is on Brian Kelly, though. The Tigers' offense should be explosive, especially through the air, and seems capable of winning the shootouts that have become more commonplace in the SEC. The defense needs work. LSU has to do a better job buttoning things up against the run and kickstart a pass rush that disappeared down the stretch in 2024. ALL-IN: LSU pushing all chips into defeating Clemson in opener 5. Florida Bringing back Billy Napier may end up working out for the Gators. The decision to not make a moves after a slow start in 2024 sparked a strong finish ]and developed some significant momentum heading into a promising season. No one embodies that promise more than sophomore quarterback DJ Lagway, who will have his development lifted by an upgraded receiver room. 6. Oklahoma Former Washington State quarterback John Mateer could end being one of the most impactful transfers of the season. Another newcomer to watch is running Jaydn Ott (California). With fewer questions on the defensive side, OU could go from six wins to the playoff should Mateer and new coordinator Ben Arbuckle change the Sooners' fortunes on offense. 7. Tennessee Nico Iamaleava's departure was one of the biggest stories of the offseason. His replacement, Joey Aguilar (Appalachian State), has a track record of production but has to limit his turnovers after tossing 14 interceptions in 390 attempts in 2024. (Iamaleava had five in 334 throws.) The biggest question mark is whether the Volunteers can build a running game that can carry the load without last year's leading rusher and with multiple new starters up front. 8. Mississippi Team Transfer takes another stab at a playoff berth behind a rotating cast of contributors and a new starter under center in Austin Simmons. While the portal yielded more help for the Rebels, look for the defense to rely primarily on players who have at least one year in the program outside of two big adds on the edge. If the defense stays among the four in the SEC, don't be surprised if Ole Miss exceeds national expectations. 9. Texas A&M A veteran offensive line leads the way for a running game that may be the best in the SEC. That will help Marcel Reed continue his growth as the starter. But the Aggies won't improve on last year's 8-5 finish without significant improvement from a defense that gave up 5.5 yards per play in 2024, better than only four other teams in the SEC. Mike Elko's history says the defense will be improved, but by how much? 10. Missouri Another very friendly SEC schedule - the same opponents as last year, just flipped from home to away and vice versa - could lead Missouri to a third 10-win season in a row, which would be a program first. A transfer bonanza will help the Tigers replace several daunting losses on offense, with no addition more crucial than quarterback Beau Pribula (Penn State). And the defense could be nasty with the return of most of last year's starters and more than a handful of Bowl Subdivision transfers with starting experience. 11. South Carolina South Carolina's season will be defined by a five-game stretch in October and November against LSU (road), Oklahoma, Alabama, Ole Miss (road) and A&M (road). Given the rest of the schedule, taking three of five there would probably leave the Gamecocks in range of a playoff berth heading into the rivalry with Clemson to end November. But getting to that point is only doable if quarterback LaNorris Sellers takes a big leap in his second year and the staff can plug in as many as a dozen new starters and contributors on the defense. 12. Auburn Auburn is going to be better, but will seven or eight wins be enough to calm a fan base stewing over Hugh Freeze's 11-14 mark through two seasons? He's done a nice rebooting the offense, though a lot of the Tigers' success or failure will hinge on transfer quarterback Jackson Arnold (Oklahoma) proving he's good enough to start in the SEC. The schedule kicks off at Baylor in what feels like a must-win game. 13. Vanderbilt Quarterback Diego Pavia and dynamite tight end Eli Stowers will lead an offense that largely avoids self-inflicted errors and is able to take advantage of opportunities provided by good field position. The offensive line and receiver corps will be reliant on the portal, though. Look for the defense to take another step forward and help carry the Commodores back to a bowl. The schedule is flat-out brutal. Arkansas takes on Memphis and Notre Dame in non-conference play. The SEC slate is Ole Miss, Tennessee, LSU and Texas on the road, and A&M, Auburn, Mississippi State and Missouri at home. The Razorbacks could recapture the magic of 2021 if things go right - really, really right. But the schedule and the new personnel nearly across the board point toward a losing finish. 15. Kentucky The arrow is pointing down for Kentucky after longtime coach Mark Stoops orchestrated the most consistently successful stretch in modern program history. A major roster reboot via the transfer portal yielded another rental at quarterback in Zach Calzada, who has SEC starting experience. But even if the portal additions work out, the Wildcats won't go anywhere without fixing the turnovers that defined last year's four-win finish. 16. Mississippi State Winless in SEC play last season, Mississippi State has barely any reason for optimism and is the unquestioned last-place team heading into the regular season. Winning two league games wouldn't be remarkable, but it might be surprising.
