Paul Finebaum on Gunner Stockton: 'I don't think Georgia has a quarterback'

ESPN’s Paul Finebaum likes Georgia, but not the quarterback piloting the Bulldogs: Gunner Stockton. Stockton takes over for Carson Beck, who transferred to Miami during the offseason.

Stockton filled in for an injured Beck at the end of the SEC Championship and then started the CFP quarterfinal game against Notre Dame. Unfortunately for Stockton and company, Georgia was one and done in the playoffs.

Going into 2025, there’s optimism Stockton could be solid and help Georgia contend for a national championship. Finebaum isn’t so sure.

In a conversation about undefeated teams in college football, Finebaum mentioned Georgia as a program who has the potential to do so. The problem is, Stockton might be holding them back in 2025.

“Georgia had terrible luck last year,” Finebaum said on First Take. “They had a great team. They start off number one, but they had to play on the road in Alabama, Texas and all this. They lost a couple of those games, two of them, to be exact. This year they have those games at home, so they have a chance. But I don’t think Georgia has a quarterback, which is what is going to be their undoing. 

“Gunner Stockton did not show me anything in the just epic loss and loss of not only the game, but loss of composure and maybe loss of traction. So I think Kirby Smart has a lot to answer for when he gets here this week. But, NIL is is the reason just to double up on what everybody else has said, there’s just so much going on you, you can’t hold on to your rosters, so you’re going to lose critical backup people or starters that may be the difference between an undefeated season and losing two or three games.”

Georgia head coach Kirby Smart has heard this tune from Finebaum before. That’s why he has a quiet confidence about Stockton at QB.

“I’m excited. Gunner got the message. He got the message. You did your job,” Smart said in response to Finebaum. “He’s a tremendous leader, but that’s nothing I didn’t already know. He’s done everything right since he’s been here. … He earns people’s respect by how he works and how he carries himself. He’s got a tremendous amount of confidence in his ability.”

In nine games over the last two years, Stockton has modest stats. He is 57-of-83 passing (68.7%) for 588 yards, three touchdowns and two interceptions.