There’s an uneasy feeling in Athens, Georgia, and it’s beginning to echo through the ranks of fans, analysts, and coaches alike. The Georgia Bulldogs, college football’s recent juggernaut and a program that has consistently produced NFL-ready talent under Kirby Smart’s leadership, are now facing an unexpected concern at the quarterback position. Gunner Stockton, once regarded as a future cornerstone for Georgia’s offense, is now at the center of a swirl of uncertainty that could have major implications for the Bulldogs’ championship aspirations. At a time when clarity and confidence under center are paramount, Georgia finds itself wading into the most unpredictable position battle in years, and Gunner Stockton’s trajectory is no longer guaranteed to align with the lofty expectations that once surrounded him.
Stockton was supposed to be the guy. He came to Georgia with all the pedigree a blue-chip quarterback could bring—an arm that can deliver lasers downfield, legs that extend plays, and a football IQ forged in the fires of elite high school competition. His record-breaking prep career in Georgia’s high school ranks seemed to foreshadow a smooth transition to the college level. Recruited heavily by some of the top programs in the nation, Stockton ultimately stayed close to home, choosing to play in the same state where he became a legend. The commitment brought excitement to Bulldog nation. Georgia fans saw a local product with sky-high potential who might someday lead the offense with the kind of dual-threat dynamism seen in national championship-caliber quarterbacks. Yet, as the 2025 season inches closer, that optimism has taken a hit.
Part of the problem has been Georgia’s increasingly crowded quarterback room. The Bulldogs have recruited well year after year, stacking talent on top of talent, and Stockton, despite his promise, has struggled to definitively separate himself. He sat behind Stetson Bennett during the team’s national title runs and then saw Carson Beck establish himself as the next man up. Even when Beck faltered or looked pedestrian, Stockton was largely kept in a backup role or left watching from the sidelines. While redshirting may have preserved his eligibility and allowed him to develop, it also raised quiet concerns about whether the coaching staff truly saw him as the future.
The most pressing concern isn’t just about Stockton’s standing on the depth chart—it’s about his ability to take the next step in his development. The limited reps he’s had in spring games and scrimmages have shown flashes, but they’ve also revealed inconsistency. Reports out of camp suggest that while Stockton possesses the raw tools, there are still issues with timing, decision-making under pressure, and reading complex defenses. That wouldn’t be particularly worrisome for a freshman or sophomore in most programs, but in Georgia’s pressure cooker of national title expectations, development windows are narrow, and patience is often in short supply.
Georgia has to decide what it values most at quarterback heading into a season that will feature heavyweight clashes across the SEC. With the addition of Texas and Oklahoma to the conference and a beefed-up schedule, the Bulldogs will face elite defenses and hostile environments almost every week. A quarterback who isn’t fully ready—mentally or physically—could cost them not just a game but a potential College Football Playoff berth. That’s the tightrope the coaching staff now walks: balancing Stockton’s development with the team’s immediate need for reliable and elite quarterback play.
The ripple effects are already starting to show. There are murmurs from inside the program that if Stockton doesn’t establish himself firmly by the end of fall camp, the Bulldogs may lean into younger talent or even consider exploring the transfer portal—again. The NCAA’s transfer rules have created an environment where experienced QBs are always just a phone call away. Georgia isn’t afraid to dip into that pool if it feels it must. Just look at how other top-tier programs like Alabama, USC, and Florida State have leveraged transfers to plug quarterback holes in recent years. If Stockton falters, it wouldn’t be out of character for Georgia to follow suit.
This scenario also threatens Georgia’s long-term quarterback pipeline. If Stockton ends up being a missed opportunity, it sends a message to future recruits that the Bulldogs may be increasingly willing to bench or bypass homegrown talent in favor of quick fixes. That could impact recruiting momentum, especially in-state, where the Bulldogs have long had an advantage over rivals like Auburn, Florida, and Tennessee. More critically, if Stockton chooses to transfer in search of a clearer path to playing time—as many quarterbacks in his position have done in the past—it could leave Georgia suddenly thin at a position where depth is crucial.
For now, Stockton remains committed and appears to be attacking the offseason with the right mindset. By all accounts, he’s not only focused on improving but has also embraced a leadership role within the locker room. He’s built relationships with receivers, maintained chemistry with the offensive line, and spent time with film study. These are all positive signs, and they reflect a player who still believes he can claim the starting job. Yet, none of that changes the cold reality of competition. The SEC is a meat grinder, and coaches will make brutally pragmatic decisions to win games.
Fans, too, are split. Some remain loyal to the idea of Stockton as a future starter, pointing to his talent and time in the system. They argue that continuity and familiarity should count for something, especially given Georgia’s complex offensive schemes. Others, however, are skeptical. They see Stockton as a talented but ultimately replaceable cog in a machine that must keep moving forward at all costs. These fans are more interested in results than stories. They want the next Stetson Bennett—not the next developmental project.
The coaching staff, for their part, is remaining tight-lipped, which only fuels speculation. Offensive coordinator Mike Bobo has praised Stockton’s arm and leadership but has stopped short of declaring him the frontrunner. Head coach Kirby Smart has said all the right things publicly, emphasizing competition and player development, but privately, he knows that his own legacy is now tied to how well Georgia performs in this post-Beck era. He can’t afford to be wrong about the quarterback position, especially not this year.
The situation with Stockton is also a reflection of broader trends in college football. The days of quarterbacks waiting three or four years for their chance are long gone. Elite programs now demand immediate returns, and quarterbacks are increasingly expected to contribute right away. The transfer portal has only added fuel to that fire, making it easier than ever for both players and programs to move on quickly when things don’t click. In that context, Stockton is fighting an uphill battle—not just against other quarterbacks, but against an entire system that’s less forgiving and more impatient than ever before.
Still, the story isn’t over. There’s a path for Stockton to emerge as the starter and deliver on the promise that once made him one of the most talked-about recruits in the nation. It would require a stellar fall camp, consistent performance in practice, and the ability to lead the offense efficiently in early-season games. If he can show that he has command of the offense and the trust of his teammates, he could still become the heartbeat of Georgia’s offense. But the clock is ticking, and the margin for error is razor thin.
Ultimately, Georgia’s quarterback situation may define their season, and Gunner Stockton is either going to be at the center of a new era of success—or remembered as a highly touted prospect who couldn’t quite make it stick. The next few weeks in Athens will tell us everything. The pressure is mounting, the expectations are suffocating, and the SEC waits for no one. For Stockton, this is the moment where dreams either take flight—or fade into what could have been.
