Athens in springtime? That means Kirby Smart is turning up the heat. Seven practices into Georgia’s spring camp, one thing’s crystal clear: Gunner Stockton is going to be a key piece of the Bulldogs’ offense. After showing flashes in the Sugar Bowl stepping in for Carson Beck, Stockton’s now staring down a big moment. Will he follow in Beck’s sometimes shaky footsteps or carve out his own legendary path? With some straight-up advice coming his way, Stockton could be the one to define Georgia’s future.
Let’s be honest, Georgia’s receiver room has been raising eyebrows. Thirty-one dropped passes last season led the nation, and their star receiver even set a dubious SEC record for drops. Plus, no receiver hit that 1000-yard mark. With some key guys now in the NFL, Kirby Smart hit the transfer portal hard, bringing in explosive talents like Zachariah Branch and Noah Thomas.
These additions could definitely prevent a receiver room collapse this season. But a lot hinges on how Gunner Stockton delivers the pigskin. And that’s exactly what an insider at UGA Football on Dawg Post is pointing out: “Gunner Stockton doesn’t have to be Superman; he just has to distribute the ball accurately and on time to all of these weapons that he has. Dillon Bell is still a weapon, and he’s a guy who’s going to help out at running back too,” Matt DeBary said. That’s the plain truth. Stockton just needs to click with his receivers, and that pressure cooker might just cool right down.
Carson Beck saw a decline in his performance in 2024, with his completion rate dropping from 72.4% to 64.7% and his yards per attempt decreasing from 9.5 to 7.8. He threw for fewer yards, increased his interceptions, and became less efficient after losing key players like Brock Bowers and Ladd McConkey. Now Kirby Smart’s aiming to avoid that same slide with Georgia’s new quarterback, Gunner Stockton, who needs reliable guys to throw to.
Concerns popped up among Georgia fans about Stockton’s limited experience, especially facing a defense like Notre Dame’s. But Stockton held his own, delivering accurate passes when he had time. He racked up 234 passing yards, just shy of Notre Dame’s total. Now, armed with weapons like Branch and Thomas, he’s in a prime spot to make an even bigger impact.
And that’s what Matt DeBary noted: “At the end of the day, the wide receivers should make more of an impact. And if you’re Gunner Stockton, yeah, there are guys that you can stretch the field with and throw the ball deep, whether it’s because they’re big and they can kind of use their size to their advantage over opposing defenders, or if they’ve got just pure speed.”
Even with injuries hitting the receiver room this spring, don’t count them out—Kirby Smart also brought in highly-rated wideouts Talyn Taylor and CJ Wiley, both top-100 prospects. Even Smart sees their potential, though he admits, “There’s no lack of effort, and they’re talented, but they’ve got a long way to go in terms of learning what to do, and that’s our job. Our job is to get them ready to go. They are not where they need to be.” With the receiver room looking promising, another quarterback drama is unfolding.
Who is going to be Kirby Smart’s QB1?
The battle for Kirby Smart’s future starting quarterback is hitting a fever pitch. Gunner Stockton and Ryan Puglisi aren’t just fighting for a spot; they’re competing to be the face of Georgia football. Stockton’s no stranger to pressure, having seen playoff action. But the stakes are higher now. Georgia needs not just a good passer but a leader.
And Gunner Stockton gets it. “Yeah, it’s a different role,” Stockton said. “Play more of a leadership aspect. I mean, not—I mean, everybody, you’re leading every day—but just that position and being able to take command and just lead the right way.” But freshman Ryan Puglisi is a serious contender, his impressive high school stats showing his efficiency.
Let’s be real, Kirby Smart isn’t handing out starting roles. He made that clear after practice: “Yeah, both those guys are doing a great job. I’m really pleased with where both of them are at,” Smart said. “Ryan’s taking some reps with the ones. Gunner continues to grow and get better. I think both those guys are doing a great job.”
Georgia’s 2025 schedule is a gauntlet, no doubt, with heavy hitters like Alabama, Texas, and Ole Miss all on the docket. The silver lining? They’re all heading to Sanford, and most of those showdowns are later in the season—a definite perk for a team breaking in a new quarterback. But make no mistake, whoever lines up under center for the Bulldogs this fall faces a serious test. For now, though, the real nail-biter is this intense quarterback clash between Stockton and Puglisi.
Stockton might have the experience edge, but Puglisi is hungry and pushing hard. It’s a straight-up fight for that QB1 spot. So, as Gunner Stockton navigates this crucial offseason, the word is: be yourself, deliver the passes, and whoever takes the reins needs to prove they can command that offense and perform at a higher level than we saw last year—that’s the Georgia standard.
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