Jump To Top of Page
Georgia’s 2025 Quarterback Competition: Is Gunner Stockton the Next Stetson Bennett?
As the Georgia Bulldogs gear up for the 2025 season, the spotlight shifts to the quarterback position. With Carson Beck’s departure, all eyes are on Gunner Stockton — a name brimming with potential, yet to be fully realized.
Stockton, a redshirt sophomore from Tiger, Georgia, saw limited action in 2024. His most meaningful minutes came during the postseason: first, a gutsy showing in the SEC Championship Game against Texas, where he led three scoring drives, and then, a full start in the Sugar Bowl against Notre Dame, where he posted a solid 234 yards and a touchdown, but also committed a critical fumble. The Bulldogs fell 27–21, but head coach Kirby Smart didn’t hold back in his postgame comments: “We wanted to show confidence in Gunner. You don’t grow by playing scared.”
That mindset is vintage Smart — aggressive, calculated, and relentlessly focused on development. His offensive philosophy has never been rigid. Instead, he builds around the strengths of his personnel. That’s how former walk-on Stetson Bennett went from overlooked backup to two-time national champion. And it’s why there’s genuine optimism that Stockton could be next in that mold.
The parallels between Stockton and Bennett aren’t just convenient storylines — they’re real. Both are undersized compared to prototypical SEC quarterbacks. Both bring mobility, toughness, and the ability to make plays off-script. Stockton doesn’t have Bennett’s resume yet, but the tools are there.
Bennett mastered the mental side of Smart’s system: decision-making, ball security, and tempo control. That’s where Stockton has work to do. His postseason snaps showed promise and flashes of inexperience, particularly under pressure. Still, teammates and coaches have praised his leadership and composure, noting that the locker room is solidly behind him.
Smart’s system values quarterbacks who can extend plays and minimize errors. It’s not about being a gunslinger. It’s about efficiency, control, and well-timed aggression — traits Bennett mastered and Stockton is now learning to embody.
The quarterback competition technically remains open heading into fall camp, but Stockton has the inside track. He knows the offense. He has postseason reps. More importantly, Smart already trusted him during the late critical moments of the 2024 campaign. That kind of vote of confidence means something in Athens.
Georgia’s success in 2025 may hinge on Stockton’s ability to refine his decision-making and build on last season’s experience. However, with a deep defense and a robust supporting cast, the Bulldogs are well-positioned. They don’t need a superstar quarterback. They need a playmaker who can seize the moment.
In 2025, that might be Gunner Stockton — a new name but a familiar formula.
Jump To Today’s Discussion Thread