With Gunner Stockton back to Georgia for one more year, one would think that the next man up at quarterback for the Bulldogs would be Ryan Puglisi. While he could have hit the transfer portal like so many other players across the country, Puglisi opted to stay at UGA for another season. He will likely serve as the primary backup to Stockton for another year, but there may be another player coming in.
All signs point to former Oregon signee Bryson Beaver transferring over to Georgia. The four-star recruit out of high school hails from Murrieta, California. If he were to come to Athens, he would effectively be Georgia's last ditch effort to replace Jared Curtis. In the 11th hour in the lead-up to National Signing Day, Curtis turned his back on Georgia (again...) to sign with hometown Vanderbilt.
Should Beaver end up committing to and enrolling at Georgia, he would join a quarterback headlined by Stockton, featuring Puglisi, Ryan Montgomery, and Hezekiah Millender, among others... Under Kirby Smart, Georgia prefers to start players who have been on campus for multiple years. The JT Daniels of the world are exceptions. Look at guys like Stockton, Carson Beck, and Stetson Bennett IV.
It may not seem like very much but Beaver's potential arrival in Athens will put more on Puglisi's plate.
Ryan Puglisi could be pushed by potential incoming quarterback transfer
In reality, this is what we all want. We want the cream to rise to the top. Stockton battled for every opportunity he got during his first three years on campus. It helped prepare him into being one of the best players in the SEC by the end of it. Yes, Stockton still has his doubters across the sport, but he has become one of the most fun players to root for in recent Georgia football memory. Good for him.
As far as what this means for Puglisi, he needs to refine his game even more. If Georgia is to be as good as we think the Bulldogs will be next season, Puglisi should get more playing time this year than even last. There is a pecking order to this all, but there is also a chance he could become yesterday's news. He offers talent, but his decision-making has been questionable at times when he has played.
Overall, Beaver may only be a depth addition at this time, but he does carry a four-star next to his name. We all know that Smart is not as infatuated with that as other head coaches are, but it still matters from the start. Players coming in with promise will get more looks early because that is the nature of the beast. Puglisi not only needs to shine in backup duty, but he must thrive during practice.
If, and when, Beaver does put pen to paper, it should finally round out the Georgia quarterback room.