In Georgia's Spring Game a few weeks ago, arguably the biggest topic of conversation was the quarterback room. Sure, Georgia is still very comfortable with Gunner Stockton leading the charge in 2026, but what about behind him?
Well, everyone assumed that spot would go to Ryan Puglisi. Even though he still sits comfortably in that spot, there was a specific quarterback that climbed charts in an unexpected way. A way that could cause a QB shakeup that has not happened in Athens in several years.
Hezekiah Millender making headlines in Athens
After redshirting his freshman year last season, nobody has really paid much attention to Hezekiah Millender up until G-Day. Most just assumed Puglisi had the QB2 spot won which would follow a longstanding tradition of QBs waiting their turn at Georgia.
The last underclassman quarterback to start in Athens was Jake Fromm nearly a decade ago now. Since then, guys like Stetson Bennett and Carson Beck, and now Stockton have had to sit and wait for several seasons before they even sniffed playing time. However, as a redshirt freshman, Millender has seriously put himself in the conversation to be Stockton's backup and a starter by 2027.
So, what really blew up Millender's name? In his G-Day performance, Millender put up a very impressive 9-15 passing for 103 yards and a rushing touchdown. In fact, in each of the limited drives Millender was able to get on the field, the offense scored. A feat that other quarterbacks, including Puglisi, struggled to achieve.
He looked calm in the pocket and delivered pinpoint accurate passes downfield. Millender also proved to be the most athletic quarterback on roster with some of his rushing attempts, arguably more athletic than Stockton, who matched a rushing record for a QB at Georgia that stood for decades.
While this likely means little for the 2026 season, this could really shake up Georgia's future. It would take a special talent for Kirby Smart to push someone above another player on the depth chart that had sat and waited their turn longer.
That almost never happens at Georgia. In fact, the last two times that did happen, those two quarterbacks went on to play for a National Championship that same season (Fromm in 2017, Bennett in 2021).
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