Georgia football is just one day away from their showdown with Notre Dame in the College Football Playoff quarterfinals at the Sugar Bowl. As one would imagine, there are countless compelling storylines heading into this game, but arguably none are more talked about then Gunner Stockton getting his first start.
Georgia QB Carson Beck was hurt during the first half of the SEC Championship game against Texas, and after a few weeks of not knowing if he would be able to play in the CFP or not, Beck was officially ruled out for the rest of the season. This now means that Stockton will take over as the leader of the offense after only playing one meaningful half of football in his college career.
However, that one half of football should give Georgia fans a lot of confidence since Stockton led the Bulldogs to a come from behind victory against Texas in the SEC Championship game. But there are countless other reasons that UGA fans should be confident in Stockton taking over for Beck as Kirby Smart recently shared three things he loves about Stockton's game.
But the rest of the team also has a lot of confidence in Stockton as well, and they made countless public statements expressing this confidence in their QB.
Chaz Chambliss on Gunner Stockton…
— Graham Coffey (@GrahamCoffeyDC) December 27, 2024
“Yeah, I mean he’s just a down to Earth kind of guy. He’s not all about the flash, he’s just all about being in the game and being with his teammates.”
Oscar Delp on Gunner Stockton
— Graham Coffey (@GrahamCoffeyDC) December 28, 2024
“He’s old school. He’s not a materialistic kind of guy. He doesn’t care about the NIL and all that stuff.”
Delp said Gunner cares about being with his friends, his family and his cows
Delp and Stockton have been roommates since getting to Georgia
Mykel Williams on Gunner Stockton…
— Graham Coffey (@GrahamCoffeyDC) December 27, 2024
“I see a calm, steady hand. Gunner has the team behind him right now… We believe in his ability to come in and get the job done.”
"I'm riding with Gunner until the wheels fall off."
— The Bulldawg Report (@ReportBulldawg) December 27, 2024
- Tate Ratledge
"A play is never dead with Gunner."
- Brett Thorson pic.twitter.com/3Jp3Nyg9XX
Oscar Delp on Gunner Stockton:
— Matt DeBary (@MattDeBary) December 30, 2024
"He's been locked in since last year. He watches film more than anyone I know."
Malaki Starks on Gunner Stockton: “I’ve been playing against him since I was 5… He’s always been that guy. We go and play against Rabun County, and it’s like ‘we’ve got to go play Gunner.’”
— Graham Coffey (@GrahamCoffeyDC) December 27, 2024
Starks said that Stockton is “an easy guy to follow.”
Chaz Chambliss on Gunner Stockton: “He is one of those guys that can completely flip a switch… He has that fire underneath him.”
— Graham Coffey (@GrahamCoffeyDC) December 27, 2024
Can Stockton lead Georgia to victory?
The nice thing about this game for Stockton is that he doesn't need to be perfect to win. Stockton has as good of a roster as you will find in college around him that are ready to go to battle with him, so even if he makes a couple mistakes Georgia can still win this game.
Georgia is the slight favorite in this game, but that does not matter. The Bulldogs have to show up and play the best game of their season if they want to win, but if they play with as much confidence as these quotes suggest they have, then UGA should have no issues winning this game.