Paul Finebaum casts doubt on Gunner Stockton's ability to carry Georgia

Based on the standards in Athens, Georgia had a down year in 2024. Paul Finebaum now thinks the Bulldogs could have a hard time correcting that in 2025 with Gunner Stockton being the Bulldogs’ QB1.

Finebaum, in an appearance on Friday morning on ‘First Take,’ named how Georgia and Alabama each follow up last season in this upcoming season as one of his top storylines going into kickoff this fall. However, that came with his doubts about the ‘Dawgs with Stockton set to be their starting quarterback.

“It was a disappointing year and, as I say that, I’m like checking myself. Georgia won the SEC Championship but it still fell flat because they looked so bad against Notre Dame, completely blowing up in the final seconds of the first half and the opening stanza of the second half,” Finebaum said. “Kirby Smart needs to bounce back but I’m not sure it’s going to be easy because Gunner Stockton is not an elite quarterback. He’s serviceable and that is about it.”

Stockton, having made seven appearances in his collegiate career to that point, was forced into action due to the elbow injury to Carson Beck in the biggest games of the season in the second half against Texas in the SEC Championship and versus Notre Dame in the Sugar Bowl as their quarterfinal in the College Football Playoff. In that game and a half, Stockton was 32-48 (66.7%) for 305 yards, a touchdown, and an interception while showing some mobility as well.

Considering all things about the spot he found himself in, that’s fine play from Stockton, especially leading an offense that struggled throughout last season at times, regardless of who was taking snaps at quarterback. Still, taking the place of your injured starter as the backup isn’t the same as being the full-time starting quarterback.

That said, even if no one else is confident in what Stockton can do, Georgia at least seems to be. The Bulldogs eventually didn’t add anyone from the transfer portal this offseason to compete with him, while all indications are that Stockton will be the starter over the other two options on the roster in Ryan Puglisi or Ryan Montgomery. They’ll need that belief in him now if they’re going to make up for — despite winning the conference and being the second overall seed in the playoff — what was technically their worst season in six years.

Stockton is as big of a question mark at quarterback as Georgia has had in its tenure under Smart. It’s now on him to have the answers, starting next week at SEC Media Days and come kickoff to the season in seven weeks’ time on August 30th.