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Gunner Stockton earned trip to SEC Media Day with leadership, still not named starter

On3 imageby: Jake Rowe07/15/25JakeMRowe
NCAA Football: Georgia G-Day Spring Game
Apr 12, 2025; Athens, GA, USA; Georgia Bulldogs quarterback Gunner Stockton (14) runs on the field prior to the start of the Georgia Spring game at Sanford Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-Imagn Images

ATLANTA — Gunner Stockton is one of three players who made the short trip to the Georgia state capital with Kirby Smart to represent UGA at SEC Media Days. On it’s face, it appears to be confirmation that Stockton has been named the Bulldogs’ starting quarterback.

In the past, when Smart has brought the starting quarterback to SEC Media Days, it has been after that player has been named the starter. The 10th-year head coach stopped short of doing that when he met with reporters prior to Georgia taking the big stage at the College Football Hall of Fame on Tuesday.

“I don’t name starters,” Smart said. “You should know that by now. I’m going to watch them play this fall. We’re going to see them go through two game-like scrimmages against really good defenses. They’re going to go in third down, which is the hardest thing in football to do, which is third-and-8 and you’ve got to convert. We’re going to put them in pressure-cooker situations. Those things will play out in the field.”

Smart has, in fact, named starters in the past. He did it for JT Daniels prior to taking him to SEC Media Days in 2021. He did it for Carson Beck during preseason camp in 2023. But no matter who you look at it, he wouldn’t do it for Stockton on Tuesday.

The Bulldog head man did, however, label Stockton as the guy who leads the offense right now. That’s as far as he would go but those are big words. The Rabun County High School product is the only quarterback on the roster with any in-game experience. He has six quarters of work against top-shelf, post-season competition.

He helped Georgia beat Texas in come-from-behind fashion in the 2024 SEC Championship game. Stockton came on in relief of Carson Beck, who suffered an injury to his ulnar collateral ligament on the last play of the first half. It ended Beck’s season and thrust Stockton into the starting role against Notre Dame in the Sugar Bowl/ College Football Playoff quarterfinal game.

That one didn’t work out quite as well as the Bulldog offense struggled mightily. Without a run game and facing consistent pressure, Stockton still threw for over 230 yards and a touchdown but the offense managed just 10 points and its season ended in New Orleans.

So what was it about Stockton that caused Smart to bring him to SEC Media Days? It starts and essentially ends with the fact that he does things the right way. That’s likely why he’ll be the starter whether Smart is ready to say it or not.

“He’s separated himself as a great leader on the team” Smart said. “If you try to bring people here that can affect others, and he’s done that in spring practice. Ryan’s (Puglisi) done awesome, too. Ryan and him are still going to be competing for everything they do. Gunner knows he’s got to go out and play well. 

“But he’s done a tremendous job this summer. We talked to the staff about it and felt like the play he had at the end of the year last year, the plays with half of a game and full game, what he’s done this spring, he deserved to come. He is the guy that leads that offense right now.”

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