One of the greatest signs of an elite college football program are the number of Heisman winners it has. USC reigns supreme when it comes to Heisman winners as they have a whopping eight winners throughout their history.
Not far behind is Notre Dame, Ohio State, and Oklahoma who all have seven winners.
So where is Georgia?
In a recent article for DawgNation, Connor Riley bemoans the lack of a Heisman winner under head coach Kirby Smart despite the proliferation of five-star recruits.
Despite back-to-back national championships and establishing permanent residency in the top 10 each year, Smart and the Bulldogs have only came close with quarterback Stetson Bennett IV, who was a fourth-place finalist in 2022.
Besides Bennett, “You’d have to go back to Garrison Hearst’s 1992 season for Georgia (even) to have a Heisman finalist,” said Riley. Of course, Herschel Walker won the award back in 1982.
But that was 43 years ago, and a program like Georgia shouldn’t be waiting that long to have another Hesiman winner.
Gunner Stockton could become Georgia’s next Heisman winner
As it stands today, there are three quarterbacks who are the frontrunners to win the Heisman this season. Arch Manning from Texas and LSU’s Garrett Nussmeieir lead the way at +800 with Clemson’s Cade Klubnik not far behind at +1150.
So who is Georgia’s best bet? None other than quarterback Gunner Stockton, who currently has +3500 odds to lift the trophy. These odds are long, but with one of the hardest schedules in all of college football, Smart and his team have the opportunity to shine large in big games that will get a lot of attention.
Speaking of games with a lot of attention, Stockton will have his chance for a “Heisman moment” at the end of the year when Texas comes to Athens in November. This game will have SEC Championship and College Football Playoff implications, so the college football world will have their eyes on this game.
So perhaps the quarterback who wins big against Texas at the end of the season in Sanford Stadium with the world watching will give Georgia the moment they’ve been waiting on since Joan Jett was blasting “I Love Rock and Roll” on the jukebox, baby.