Gunner Stockton is stepping into one of the most pressure-packed roles in college football, and he’s doing it with clarity, conviction, and an unwavering belief in his ability to lead. As the Georgia Bulldogs transition from an era marked by the legendary achievements of Stetson Bennett, Stockton emerges as the next man up—not merely as a quarterback filling a vacancy, but as a leader determined to shape the identity of a program accustomed to winning on the biggest stages. The comparisons to Bennett are inevitable. Bennett’s story is etched into Georgia football history—his underdog rise, national championships, and Heisman contention cemented his status in Athens. But Gunner Stockton is not interested in being the next Stetson Bennett. He’s focused on being the first Gunner Stockton. This is not about repeating history; it’s about building on it with a new mindset, a new energy, and a new voice in the huddle.
Stockton’s rise has been anything but meteoric. He waited. He developed. He took mental reps. He studied the game under Bennett and Carson Beck, absorbing offensive coordinator Mike Bobo’s system and slowly building trust within the program. His commitment to the grind—both visible and behind the scenes—has now paid off. Teammates have noted a shift this offseason: Stockton isn’t just present in practice; he’s commanding it. His voice is louder. His decisions are sharper. His confidence is beginning to shape the energy of the offense. And that’s no small feat in a locker room that’s undergone significant turnover. For a Georgia team that’s consistently reloading with four- and five-star talent, continuity and leadership are not luxuries—they’re necessities. Gunner Stockton is not shying away from that responsibility.
In media sessions, Stockton speaks with a calmness that reflects his maturity. He talks about the importance of footwork, of mastering the playbook, of becoming more vocal, and of trusting the process. It’s not just coach speak—it’s lived experience. He studied the details of Carson Beck’s game, particularly his precision and composure in the pocket. He internalized those lessons, worked with his coaches to clean up mechanical inefficiencies, and applied that refinement during spring practice. In Georgia’s spring game, he showed flashes of what makes him different—not just as an athlete, but as a competitor. He threw for over 300 yards and a pair of touchdowns, solidifying his hold on the starting job. But what impressed observers most wasn’t the stats. It was how he carried himself. It was how he rallied his unit, encouraged younger players, and reset quickly after mistakes. That’s leadership. That’s culture-building. That’s what Georgia needs in this moment.
Stockton’s football identity is built on three core values: toughness, preparation, and authenticity. Teammates describe him as gritty and relentless. He doesn’t flinch when the pass rush collapses. He doesn’t point fingers when a receiver drops a catchable ball. He owns his role, and he brings a blue-collar attitude to a position that too often invites ego. Raylen Wilson, one of Georgia’s rising defensive leaders, said it plainly: “Gunner doesn’t get discouraged. That’s what makes him dangerous.” And that’s the kind of quality that turns a good team into a great one. Because in the SEC, talent is never in short supply. What separates champions is belief. Not just in themselves, but in each other. Gunner Stockton is earning that belief with every rep, every meeting, every sprint in the offseason heat.
Still, there’s no avoiding the comparisons to Bennett. And Stockton doesn’t pretend otherwise. But rather than viewing Bennett’s legacy as a burden, he’s treating it as a blueprint. He watched how Bennett handled pressure, how he responded to being doubted, and how he found ways to win even when the stat sheet didn’t sparkle. Those lessons aren’t lost on Stockton. But he also knows he’s a different kind of player. He has more arm strength. He’s a more traditional pocket passer with enough mobility to escape pressure and extend plays. He’s also more methodical, more reliant on structure, and more inclined to let the offense come to him. That patience will be tested in the fall. But Georgia’s coaching staff believes in his progression—and more importantly, so do his teammates.
The trust Stockton is building didn’t appear overnight. It’s rooted in his preparation. Offensive coordinator Mike Bobo has praised Stockton’s film study, his work ethic, and his football IQ. “He prepares as well as anybody I’ve ever coached,” Bobo said recently. That kind of praise isn’t handed out lightly, especially not in a program that has produced some of the nation’s top signal-callers over the past decade. But Stockton has earned it. He approaches the game like a veteran. He doesn’t cut corners. He asks questions. He stays late in the film room. And when his number was called in last season’s SEC Championship Game, he delivered. Coming in cold after Beck’s injury, Stockton helped guide Georgia to a tight win over Texas. It wasn’t flashy. It wasn’t perfect. But it was poised. It was decisive. It was enough to show that when the moment arrives, Gunner Stockton can handle it.
In the Sugar Bowl, he made his first official start, leading Georgia against a tough Notre Dame defense. The game ended in a disappointing loss, but Stockton’s performance offered reasons for optimism. He threw for 234 yards and a touchdown, showing improved timing, accuracy, and field awareness. He moved the offense efficiently between the 20s, and although there were moments of inexperience—missed reads, a costly fumble—he never looked overwhelmed. That ability to stay calm, to remain present in chaotic moments, is exactly what Georgia’s coaching staff wants from its starter. It’s also what the team’s defense, loaded with NFL-bound talent, expects from the man leading the offense.
Of course, the road ahead won’t be easy. The SEC is unforgiving. Opposing coordinators will scheme to expose his weaknesses. Mistakes will come. But Gunner Stockton is built for the challenge. His background—growing up in small-town Georgia, dominating at Rabun County High School, staying home despite the lure of early playing time elsewhere—has molded him into someone who relishes hard work. He’s been doubted before. He’s heard the questions. Does he have the release speed? Can he limit turnovers? Can he win when the game is ugly? Stockton isn’t interested in talking about those things. He’s interested in answering them with play.
And the Georgia fanbase is ready. While some still long for the magic of the Bennett years, most understand that this team is evolving. The 2025 Bulldogs are not the same squad that won back-to-back national titles. They’re younger, rawer, and perhaps more reliant on resilience than experience. But they’re still loaded with talent. The offensive line is stacked. The defense remains elite. The receiving corps, while inconsistent last year, has added key transfers and breakout candidates. The pieces are there. What’s needed now is cohesion. Unity. Grit. Stockton is the one who can bring that to the table—not just with his arm, but with his presence. He listens. He leads. He believes. And slowly, his teammates are beginning to believe with him.
Critics will watch closely in the first few weeks of the season. Georgia opens with winnable games, but the real tests will come fast—conference road matchups, hostile crowds, and the kind of emotional swings that define a championship season. But Stockton’s mindset doesn’t change with the calendar. He approaches each game the same way: as an opportunity to earn respect. He’s not playing for headlines. He’s playing for wins. For team. For legacy. Not Stetson Bennett’s legacy. His own.
As the new season dawns, Gunner Stockton’s messages resonate across the program. The first: He is ready to lead, not as a placeholder but as a pillar. The second: He is not afraid of pressure—he embraces it as a proving ground. And the third: He is committed to the work, the preparation, the small details that transform a good quarterback into a great one. These are not hollow mantras. They’re the foundation of a new era in Georgia football.
It’s still early. The story of Gunner Stockton is still being written. But all the signs suggest that Georgia is in good hands. Not perfect hands. Not magical hands. But strong, steady, tested hands—willing to do the work, carry the weight, and take the next step for a program that expects nothing less than greatness. And in that pursuit, Stockton doesn’t just follow a path. He makes one
