The Georgia Bulldogs have built a program on toughness, unity, and loyalty, and nowhere is that more evident than in how they rally behind their own. So when Cole Cubelic, a former Auburn offensive lineman turned respected SEC Network analyst, made waves at SEC Media Days by revealing a moment that showed exactly why Gunner Stockton is the guy the Bulldogs will fight for, people listened. Stockton may not be the most talked-about name nationally—yet—but inside that Georgia locker room and on that sideline, he’s something much more important than a headline. He’s respected. He’s believed in. He’s their guy. And in college football, that means everything.
Cubelic shared his thoughts on Atlanta’s 92.9 The Game with Dukes & Bell, where he recounted a powerful scene he witnessed firsthand. It wasn’t during a touchdown celebration, a game-winning drive, or even a post-game press conference. It was in a subtle, real, raw moment on the sideline that told him everything he needed to know about how the Georgia Bulldogs view Gunner Stockton. According to Cubelic, he saw a different kind of energy from the Bulldogs when Stockton took the field—players locked in, body language shifting, intensity rising. That kind of reaction doesn’t come from hope or curiosity. That comes from belief. From respect. From knowing that the guy on the field will give everything he’s got—and deserves everything you’ve got too.
In a world where college football is driven increasingly by NIL deals, transfer portal headlines, and flashy commitments, moments like these are rare. What Cubelic described wasn’t orchestrated. It wasn’t a media ploy or a PR stunt. It was authentic. The kind of authentic that wins football games. The kind of authentic that can lead a locker room through the trenches of the SEC and into a title chase. And that authenticity has clearly left a mark on Stockton’s teammates.
It’s not hard to understand why. Stockton’s path hasn’t been the glamorous, fast-tracked story many quarterbacks enjoy. He wasn’t handed the job or hyped endlessly before throwing a pass. He’s had to wait. Learn. Grow. Watch others take the spotlight while he sharpened himself behind the scenes. And that patience—paired with relentless work ethic—has earned him more than just a chance. It’s earned him loyalty. Players notice when you work. They notice when you show up early, stay late, and put in the grind without asking for attention. Gunner Stockton did all of that and more, and now that he’s getting his shot, the locker room isn’t just behind him—they’re ready to go to battle for him.
At a program like Georgia, where the talent pool is deep and the expectations are sky-high, earning that kind of respect is no small feat. These are players who’ve seen greatness, who know what leadership looks like, and who don’t just give out trust because someone wears red and black. You earn it. And Stockton has, with every practice rep, every scout team rep, every offseason lift, every film session where he wasn’t the starter but still studied like he was. It’s that attitude, that selflessness, that grittiness, that’s endeared him to the core of this Bulldog team.
Kirby Smart, Georgia’s intense and calculating head coach, has always valued these intangible elements. He wants dogs with bite, not just bark. Players who won’t flinch in the biggest moments. Gunner Stockton may not have the national profile of a Caleb Williams or Quinn Ewers, but inside that Georgia building, he has something more powerful than hype. He has trust. And that trust, from coaches to teammates, matters more than any preseason magazine or highlight clip.
When Cole Cubelic said he saw it in the eyes of the players on the sideline—that they “knew Gunner was their guy”—he didn’t mean it as a metaphor. He meant it literally. He saw players lean forward, get louder, tune in. The body language was unmistakable. Football players have a radar for real ones, and that moment told Cubelic all he needed to know: the Georgia Bulldogs would go to war for Gunner Stockton.
And that means something serious heading into the fall.
This year’s Bulldogs team is once again stacked with championship-level talent. On both sides of the ball, the depth is elite, the coaching is elite, and the expectations are, well, very Georgia-like: win the SEC, make the College Football Playoff, and bring another national championship back to Athens. Those expectations won’t change whether it’s Gunner Stockton, Carson Beck, or someone else under center. But the way this team is built—their culture, their chemistry—means they don’t just care about who has the strongest arm or fastest 40-yard dash. They care about who they believe in. And right now, more and more signs point to Stockton becoming that guy.
There’s also a growing sentiment among Bulldog fans and analysts alike that Stockton brings a toughness and dual-threat capability to the position that could give Georgia an added edge, especially as the offense continues to evolve. While Beck is polished and poised, Stockton brings something a bit more raw and unpredictable—a gunslinger mentality paired with surprising mobility and a physicality that matches Georgia’s bruising identity. He’s not just trying to win games with his arm—he’s trying to out-tough you every snap. And that kind of quarterback? That’s the kind who can shift momentum in big games, who can keep a locker room fired up through tough stretches, who can flip a rivalry with one clutch play on third-and-long.
For years, Georgia fans have marveled at their team’s consistency and dominance under Kirby Smart. But with that comes a yearning for a playmaker at quarterback who brings a little chaos, a little magic, a little edge. Stetson Bennett, though often underrated, brought some of that. Gunner Stockton might be the next evolution—one with even more tools and just as much fire. And more importantly, he’s someone his teammates clearly want to fight for. That’s a bond that stats can’t measure, but championship teams are built on.
What’s also worth noting is how quiet Stockton has been in the midst of growing hype. No brash statements. No media tour. Just work. When players like that start to emerge, they often take everyone by surprise—except their teammates, who’ve seen it coming all along. That’s where Georgia is right now. The media might still be debating the depth chart, but inside the team? There’s no debate about Stockton’s presence. Whether or not he wins the starting job in fall camp, that respect isn’t going away. And if his moment does come, expect the Bulldogs to respond not with hesitation but with fire.
Cole Cubelic didn’t come out of SEC Media Days with some viral quote about stats or depth charts. What stuck with him—what he made sure to share—was a sideline vibe. That feeling you can’t quantify but can’t ignore. The way grown men in pads subtly shift their posture, widen their eyes, and lean into the moment when a certain player steps on the field. That’s real. That’s leadership. And that’s why Gunner Stockton is a name to know heading into this season.
So while the headlines may continue to center on other SEC quarterback battles, the most important story coming out of Athens might not be who wins the job—it might be who has the team. And in that category, Gunner Stockton is surging. He’s not just auditioning for a starting role. He’s commanding a movement. The Georgia Bulldogs are ready to go to war this fall, and if it’s Gunner Stockton under center, rest assured—they’ll be fighting for more than wins. They’ll be fighting for one of their own.
