Gunner Stockton and Stetson Bennett are both facing criticism this season and do not have a lot of believers outside of Athens. Georgia fans believe in both quarterbacks, but the general consensus among the media and other football fans is that neither player is good enough to be regarded as one of the best quarterbacks in college or the NFL.
Stockton specifically has been disregarded all offseason, this time though it was a couple SEC coaches who are doubting his potential.
“He runs it better than you think, really smart, pretty accurate,” an anonymous SEC defensive coordinator said via dawgnation.com. “I don’t think he’s got unbelievable arm talent, but pretty good.”
This coach doesn’t think Stockton’s arm is as good as the other top quarterbacks in the country, and that sentiment remained consistent with another SEC coach.
“He’s a great college quarterback,” a different SEC defensive coordinator said. “He’s tough, so he can get some bull yards and take some big hits and all that stuff. I really like him, he’s a really good player. I don’t know if he’s an NFL specimen, but he’s a great college player.”
Just like Stockton, many NFL fans believe Stetson Bennett will never make it as an NFL starting quarterback. So as they both enter pivotal years in their football careers, Stockton and Bennett will look to prove their naysayers wrong.
Anonymous SEC coaches refuse to buy stock in Gunner Stockton
Both SEC coaches acknowledged the things that make Stockton great, but they refuse to believe that he can be an elite passer and NFL level talent.
Both SEC coaches recognized how great of a runner Stockton is. They also see how tough he is and agree that he is good as a passer, but they don’t think his arm is quite good enough to be considered an elite college quarterback with true NFL potential.
There is some truth to what these coaches are saying. Stockton’s legs were far better than his arm last year, and his toughness is second to none. His passing also wasn’t as great as some other QBs across the country either. These coaches however don’t seem to believe that he can become a better passer, but that is the thing Stockton has been working on the most this offseason.
Stockton has the entire season in front of him where he can prove people wrong. This likely will be his last year in college, so if Stockton is going to make it as a starter in the NFL he needs to leave no doubt that he is as good of a passer as he is a runner. If he can do that then he could easily work his way into the first round of the 2027 NFL Draft.
Gunner Stockton’s NFL potential could be the same as Stetson Bennett’s current reality
Georgia fans believe that Stockton can be a great passer, but media and fans outside of Athens aren’t so sure. They think his arm will eventually be what limits him in the NFL and why he will never be more than a backup. That is the reality that Stetson Bennett faces with the LA Rams today.
Bennett is entering the final year of his contract with the Rams, and he once again will be a backup. He however looks to be the Rams second string quarterback for the first time in his career, but that ultimately might not matter in the long run.
The Rams have made it clear that they view Ty Simpson as their future quarterback after they drafted him in the first round of the 2026 NFL Draft. So even if Bennett beats Simpson and becomes the Rams backup this year, they likely will let Bennett walk after this season and ride with Simpson into the future.
Stockton and Bennett both have a lot to prove this year. Georgia fans believe Stockton can be one of the best quarterbacks in college and a future NFL starter while also believing Bennett can be a starter in the NFL too. They both have to show their true potential on the field first, but if they do they both can immediately become the superstars Georgia fans know they can be.
Add us as a preferred source on Google