Of all the teams in the Power Four ushering in new starting quarterbacks for this season, few will be as scrutinized as Georgia's Gunner Stockton. While this will be his first season as the starter, 2025 will be Stockton's fourth year with the program. He has played sparingly so far, having appeared in a handful of games as Carson Beck's backup the last two years, before taking over for him in January.
While he has shown a proclivity to spin it, there was never a time in Stockton's life where he thought it was a good idea to slide. His physical running style is a huge part of his game. For those bullish on what he can do in his first season leading the Dawgs' offense, they are of the belief that the run will open up the pass for him. Beck could scramble decently, but he was far more of a true pocket passer.
As far as those who are critical of him, this could be like Joe Cox taking over for Matthew Stafford. Cox is the most notable example of a guy biding his time for his day in the sun. He is also the last quarterback to actually lose a game to Kentucky. Let's just say those who were in the stands left Sanford Stadium completely dumbfounded that day. Georgia draws Kentucky at home this year, too.
All that in mind, just what is the ceiling and the floor for Stockton in his first season as the starter?
What is the ceiling for Gunner Stockton in 2025
In a best-case scenario, Stockton could operate Mike Bobo's offense as efficiently as Stetson Bennett IV did in his second full season as the Georgia starter in 2022 in Todd Monken's system. In essence, Stockton has an outside shot to lead an undefeated team into the playoff en route to a national title and a Heisman Trophy nod. Stockton is very much a Bobo guy, so maybe he thrives in it?
Stafford and Aaron Murray did extraordinary things in this system, so maybe something of that ilk?
What is the floor for Gunner Stockton in 2025?
On the other side of the coin, could it really be as bad as Cox? If Georgia is destined to go something like 8-4 as another Dawg who had to wait his turn in Hutson Mason prophesies, maybe? Stockton is more physically gifted than Cox ever was, so that seems like a stretch as the floor. Then again, the 2009 Georgia team was nothing to write home about. It was the beginning of the end for Mark Richt.
There may come another day when the next version of Cox is playing in Athens, but let's hope not...
What is a reasonable expectation for Gunner Stockton in 2025?
As far as what seems reasonable for Stockton, he may be more in the vein of Mason's lone year as the starter in 2014 or D.J. Shockley's time in the spotlight in the mid-2000s in a post-David Greene world. To say Stockton will be as good as Bennett, Aaron Murray, Stafford or even Beck right away might be pushing it. He can be varying shades of all four of those guys. For now, he must be himself.
Overall, there will be at least a few games this fall where Stockton wins them for Georgia. Conversely, there might be a few times where he puts the team in jeopardy of defeat. Either his offensive teammates, the entire defense or Georgia's elite coaching staff will have to bail him out. To expect him to play perfectly in his first season as the starter is pushing it. There will be some growing pains here.
Ultimately, Georgia still enters this season as a top-five team in the country, regardless of how anyone feels about Stockton. The upside is certainly there, but there is a chance the bottom could fall out with this team. If it hits the fan early, then maybe backups like Ryan Puglisi and Ryan Montgomery will get some run? At this time, it is easy to be bullish on Stockton because of the great talent around him.
If Stockton plays like a great Bulldogs quarterback from year's past, Georgia should have a good year.