Georgia fans have known for a while they have themselves a DGD at quarterback in Gunner Stockton. Ever since Stockton was thrown into the SEC Championship against Texas in 2024, fans have fallen in love with the blue collar kid from Rabun County. Stockton was able to prove himself to the nation as an elite quarterback as a full team effort willed the Bulldogs past Alabama in Tuscaloosa in a major win for Georgia this season.
While the overall big-picture stats may not flash like other guys in the country, three critical observations can be taken away from Stockton's game against the Crimson Tide that should excite Georgia fans.
Nearly perfect execution on third down
This is a stat that many Georgia quarterbacks have failed to do against Alabama in the past. In Saturday's win, you cannot be much more perfect than what Stockton was able to do. Stockton completed nine of his 10 passes on third downs with 104 yards on the day. That total was able to help Georgia convert on 7 of their 13 third down attempts.
One of those throws for a conversion was for a critical third down conversion in the fourth quarter. Georgia was backed up in their own territory on a 3rd and 8 and nearly standing in his own endzone Stockton threw an absolute strike to big tight end Elyiss Williams on a play I am still not sure how on earth he was able to make.
After tonight, I donβt want to see any βcheck down merchantβ for Gunner Stockton. pic.twitter.com/UveCPA7mYj
β βπππππ₯π πβ‘οΈ (@HamDawg115) October 11, 2026
Georgia did not convert these third downs on wide receiver screens. Stockton did not have a 90 percent completion percentage on third down on simple check downs. In fact, the average yards-to-go on Georgia's third downs was 8.38 yards.
Stockton's average yards per completion on third downs was 11.56 yards. Stockton looked composed and looked sharp on third down, and that level of comfort that offensive coordinator Mike Bobo has in Stockton to be able to make those plays is one of the biggest factors in Georgia's win Saturday night.
He's not a run-first quarterback anymore
After tying Nate Frazier for total rushing attempts against Alabama in the SEC Championship last season and leading the Bulldogs in rushing touchdowns in the regular season a year ago, Stockton did not need to win the game with his legs on Saturday. Yes, he did call his own number and scrambled for a touchdown in the third quarter, but Stockton overall did not run the ball much at all.
He totaled six carries for 12 yards, and 14 of those came on that touchdown run. Against Alabama, he was a true pocket passer and he shined.
Stockton's late game heroic moments continue to grow
Stockton's list of late game heroism only continues to grow now. Last season he showed his clutch gene against Tennessee, Auburn, Florida, and Ole Miss twice. Despite losing that second matchup against the Rebels in the playoffs, he has a record of 5-1 in those games.
In Neyland Stadium he connected with Humphreys on a fourth down in the fourth quarter that tied the game and inevitably sent it to overtime after a missed field goal from the Vols. At Jordan-Haire Stadium, Stockton SuperMan dove into the end zone to seal the victory over the Tigers. I could keep listing examples of when Stockton came up big for the Bulldogs, but you get the gist.
Stockton has what it takes to win the big games in the fourth quarter. It don't matter the score, the stakes, or the team, in Stockton we trust.
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