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Gunner Stockton giving Georgia defense fits in scout team role

Palmber-Thombsby: Palmer Thombs09/21/22palmerthombs
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Rob Davis/UGA Sports Communications

Remember back in 2017 when Georgia defenders raved about the scout team quarterback picking apart the defense in its preparation for the Rose Bowl? Yeah, that was now starter Stetson Bennett who has been among the more impressive players in the country to start the 2022 College Football season. And based on recent comments, it would appear that Georgia’s 2022 defense, one that leads the country in points allowed through three games, is getting the a similar treatment from freshman quarterback Gunner Stockton.

“Gunner’s incredible,” Georgia safety Dan Jackson said. “He exposes us every day on defense. He can sling it and he can expose us with his feet. I think he gives one of the greatest looks I’ve seen on the scout team.”

Stockton, a four-star and top-10 quarterback coming out of Rabun Country High School (Tiger, Ga.) in the Class of 2022, has the skills to be a difference maker in the future at quarterback. He set Georgia state records for career passing touchdowns, passing yards and rushing touchdowns as he totaled 12,652 career passing yards, 177 passing touchdowns, 4,372 rushing yards and 77 rushing touchdowns in his four years at the helm for the Wildcats. During that time, Rabun County advanced to the GHSA Class 2A quarterbacks every season, getting to the semifinals in 2020. As a senior, he completed 71.3 percent of passes for 4,134 yards and 55 touchdowns with 956 yards and 15 touchdowns on 137 carries too. For his efforts he was named Georgia Gatorade Football Player of the Year.

He’s not the first talented player to take on the role of scout team star either. There have been several under the watch of Kirby Smart. In the coach’s opinion, it can be a helpful step in a player’s progression as he gets to go out to practice and just play, not having to worry about the mental side of football and the pressure that comes with knowing a playbook.

“Poise, great arm talent. He’s probably played since being on the scout team. He hasn’t had to deal with the information overload,” Smart said. “A lot of times, you find out a lot about a guy on the scout team because he is looking at a card. There’s no thought process. There’s no, ‘I have to say this, I have to do this.’ You take the robot out and you play. He’s played well on the scout team. A lot of the kids who came over there, there’s no pressure because you are not in trouble if you mess up. It’s the same way when you play defensive guys on the scout team. You look at your card, and a lot of times you play faster.”

With Georgia as 41-point favorites on Saturday, Stockton might get to see some game action against Kent State. Whether he does or not though, it certainly seems as if he’ll continue to give a great look on the scout team. And hey, for all we know, the 2022 defense might just be getting an early glance at the promising future for the freshman, just as that 2017 defense did with Stetson Bennett.

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