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Kirby Smart feels Georgia QB Gunner Stockton 'grew up' Saturday

Jeremy Johnsonby: Jeremy Johnson7 hours agoJeremyO_Johnson
NCAA Football: Marshall at Georgia
Aug 30, 2025; Athens, Georgia, USA; Georgia Bulldogs quarterback Gunner Stockton (14) passes the ball against the Marshall Thundering Herd during the first quarter at Sanford Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-Imagn Images

Georgia’s starting quarterback, Gunner Stockton, answered the call on a few occasions on Saturday in his first SEC road start. Stockton threw a touchdown late in the fourth quarter to cut into Tennessee’s eight-point lead.

Then, on the two-point conversion, he delivered a strike to Zachariah Branch to tie the game. Georgia went on to defeat Tennessee 44-41 in overtime.

Stockton put up 304 yards passing and two touchdowns. Stockton also ran for 38 yards and a touchdown. Stockton earned the praise of his head coach following the game for his toughness and maturation that took place even in game on Saturday night.

“He’s so tough, he takes shot after shot,” Georgia head coach Kirby Smart told reporters after the game. “I thought he did a good job with the run game, his run game. It saved us on a couple of third downs. In the red area, he made a couple of runs. That plus one run game can be big for us, if he can protect himself. I thought he grew up tonight. He grew up a lot tonight. He stood in there and that fourth down throw he made was really good.”

Kirby Smart is excited about the potential growth of Gunner Stockton

Smart hopes that Stockton continues to grow and trusts his protection a little more, but he also understands Stockton the person enough to know how he’s going to put himself on the line if need be.

“I want him to trust the pocket and stay in there, but that’s who he is,” Smart said. “I think we’re going to evolve with him. We can scramble and make some really big-time plays if he’ll keep his eyes downfield when he scrambles.”

Smart will withhold judgment on the football execution of Stockton until he watches the film.

“I want to judge him by watching the tape, but there are plays in there that can be made, but he’s got to settle down and have confidence,” Smart said. “The best thing he’s got is his legs. He’s got a good arm, but he’s got to trust his legs and use them to extend plays, but not just run. These guys are fast in our league. He tries to run to the sideline, and he might only get two or three yards, where if he runs north and south and sticks it up in there, he’s going to find some honey holes in that pocket.”

Georgia will have an off week next week before returning to Sanford Stadium to host Alabama on Sept. 27.

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