All eyes have been on Georgia's quarterback room this offseason. Ever since the departure of Carson Beck, experts have been questioning whether or not Georgia can keep up with the heavyweights of the SEC with a new quarterback. However, Gunner Stockton has since shut down those rumors with his level of play in the offseason and scrimmages.
Beyond that, former four-star recruits Ryan Puglisi and Ryan Montgomery have both taken major strides to backup Stockton. Experts will still question whether these guys can compete, but fans should be confident in Georgia's QBs.
Gunner Stockton impressing early
Stockton is already loved and respected by fans for his heroic effort to help Georgia beat the Texas Longhorns in overtime last season in the SEC Championship game. Though the playoff game did not go the way fans hoped, Stockton did not receive a lot of blame or negativity for the outcome. With the new season approaching, Kirby Smart has praised the signal caller for being a "winner" and being respected heavily by teammates.
Beyond his leadership and character, Stockton has proven his value with his play as well. Even though he might not have an arm quite as strong as Beck did, he has a mobility factor that could be a weapon in the SEC. Stetson Bennett was exactly that for Georgia when he came in for injured quarterback JT Daniels.
With plenty of weapons surrounding him and experience under his belt, fans have nothing to worry about with Stockton.
Ryan Puglisi, Ryan Montgomery getting noticed
With all the spotlight on Stockton, do not overlook Puglisi and Montgomery. In the SEC Championship game, Puglisi was one play away from needing to come in for Stockton when his helmet got knocked off. Puglisi or Montgomery could end up being a major factor for Georgia this season, and if so, Coach Smart has both quarterbacks' backs.
Smart stated that Puglisi has made major strides since last year, making improvements on recognizing mistakes he makes in scrimmages. A level of composure can be taken as a good sign for Georgia fans. If things were to go sideways, Puglisi has proven to Smart that he can recognize when he makes mistakes and "prepares really hard. He studies, he's smart."
On the other hand, Montgomery also reaped praises from Smart as well. Smart called Montgomery a "very accurate passer" who has handled increased volume of snaps well in scrimmage.
Experts have consistently criticized the young locker room, specifically Stockton, as not being talented enough to compete. Though it is true that the team no longer has their seasoned veteran in Beck, all three of these guys were four-star recruits. They are talented, and Stockton's now a redshirt junior. He's been around, and he has learned from two of the greatest passers in Bulldogs' history.
If the SEC Championship did not prove it already, Georgia has what it takes. Specifically, the quarterback room is a strength, not a weakness.