As a leaky O-line raises concerns, Gunner Stockton leads a shaky quarterback room. Important questions are ahead.
The Georgia Bulldogs are no strangers to pressure, but heading into the 2025 season, that pressure takes on a new dimension. While national titles and playoff berths have become the standard in Athens, the current roster is marked by uncertainty, particularly on the offensive side of the ball. A traditionally dominant offensive line now appears vulnerable, and in the quarterback room, Gunner Stockton stands as the tentative leader of a group that has more question marks than proven answers. The combination raises concerns that are not just cosmetic—they threaten to undermine a team accustomed to operating like a well-oiled machine.
Gunner Stockton, a redshirt junior, enters the season as the presumptive starter under center. With Carson Beck declaring for the NFL and Brock Vandagriff transferring to Kentucky, Stockton’s once-crowded path to the starting job has cleared considerably. Still, with opportunity comes expectation. Stockton, a former high four-star recruit from Rabun County High School, has had ample time to develop within Georgia’s system. He’s known for his athleticism, his quick release, and his toughness. But unlike his predecessor Beck, who had the benefit of an elite offensive line and a wealth of proven playmakers, Stockton may be tasked with leading an offense that’s still in the process of finding its footing.
In limited action, Stockton has flashed potential. He’s shown a willingness to step up in the pocket and push the ball downfield, and he’s displayed mobility that could be crucial behind an offensive line that looks far from dominant. But potential doesn’t always translate into production, especially in the gauntlet that is SEC football. The Georgia faithful are rightly curious—if not anxious—about whether Stockton can handle the week-in, week-out rigors of a starter’s role.
There’s also the issue of competition. Ryan Puglisi, a talented true freshman, is turning heads in summer workouts with his arm talent and maturity. Though raw, Puglisi brings a live arm and the type of upside that makes coaches pause. If Stockton falters early, Kirby Smart and offensive coordinator Mike Bobo might have a decision to make sooner than they’d like. The quarterback room isn’t necessarily devoid of talent—it’s just unproven and potentially unstable, a stark contrast from the seasoned groups of years past.
But even if Stockton solidifies his role and lives up to expectations, he may not be the solution to Georgia’s most pressing concern: the offensive line. For the better part of the last decade, Georgia has boasted one of the premier O-lines in the country—brutish, deep, and technically sound. But the 2025 version of this unit is, by most accounts, a work in progress. Key departures have left gaps at both tackle and guard positions, and spring practice did little to settle nerves. The interior line play has been inconsistent, and pass protection, in particular, has raised red flags. Intrasquad scrimmages have seen quarterbacks hurried and flushed more frequently than coaches would like, and while summer workouts may allow for some corrections, the unit remains under scrutiny.
The line’s struggle to establish cohesion could have ripple effects throughout the offense. A leaky offensive line not only jeopardizes the quarterback’s rhythm but also limits the run game, which Georgia has historically leaned on to balance its attack. Daijun Edwards returns as a dependable back, and redshirt sophomore Roderick Robinson II is poised to take on a larger role. But even elite backs need space to work. If the line can’t consistently win at the point of attack, Georgia’s vaunted rushing attack may sputter.
Injuries have also played a role in the line’s instability. Several projected starters missed parts of spring and summer workouts, hindering chemistry and slowing development. Offensive line coach Stacy Searels is facing perhaps his toughest assignment yet—turning a unit filled with raw talent and inexperience into a group that can anchor an offense expected to compete for a national title. It’s not impossible. Georgia recruits at a level where the cupboard is never bare. But development and cohesion take time, and the Bulldogs open their season with a slate of games that won’t allow for slow starts.
The uncertainty up front also forces Georgia to rethink its offensive identity. For the past few years, Georgia has enjoyed the luxury of imposing its will—controlling tempo, dominating time of possession, and using play-action to devastating effect. If the offensive line can’t hold its own, that identity might have to shift. A more quick-hitting, RPO-heavy approach could emerge, utilizing Stockton’s mobility and Georgia’s deep stable of receivers and tight ends to stretch defenses horizontally and keep them guessing. Dominic Lovett and Dillon Bell return as reliable targets, and Oscar Delp is expected to take over as the top tight end, offering Stockton a much-needed safety valve. Still, any scheme shift requires rapid adaptation and buy-in from all personnel.
Defensively, Georgia remains formidable. The front seven is loaded with blue-chip talent, and the secondary, though young, is deep and athletic. That unit may need to carry more of the load early in the season as the offense finds its footing. Kirby Smart has built his reputation on defense, and that side of the ball is once again expected to be a strength. But even elite defenses benefit from complementary football. If the offense struggles to stay on the field or turns the ball over with frequency, no defense can consistently withstand that level of strain—especially in the SEC.
There’s also the intangible factor of leadership. In recent years, players like Stetson Bennett and Carson Beck provided not just consistency at quarterback, but vocal leadership and calm under pressure. Stockton will need to grow into that role quickly, especially with a young offensive group around him. Leadership can’t be faked, and in a locker room full of highly recruited players, respect is earned through performance and accountability. Coaches have praised Stockton’s approach and maturity, but those traits will be tested in live-game situations—on third-and-long, in tight road games, and in moments when poise becomes the difference between a win and a loss.
The Bulldogs aren’t flying under the radar—far from it. As perennial contenders, they carry the weight of national expectations. Every flaw is magnified, every stumble dissected. That scrutiny can forge champions or expose pretenders. For a team with so many new faces in key roles, the mental aspect of the game becomes just as important as the physical. How does the offensive line respond after giving up sacks in a critical moment? How does Stockton bounce back from a poor first half? How do coaches adjust when the game plan isn’t working?
In the end, Georgia’s season may hinge not just on talent—which they have in abundance—but on adaptation. Can a historically dominant program shift gears without losing its identity? Can it win without controlling the trenches? Can it find leadership in unexpected places? These are the questions that define championship-caliber teams. And these are the very questions Kirby Smart and his staff must answer.
Of course, projecting doom based on offseason uncertainty would be premature. The Bulldogs are loaded with four- and five-star prospects across the roster, and they’ve shown an uncanny ability to reload rather than rebuild. The margin for error, however, is slimmer this year. Alabama, under new leadership, looks reenergized. Texas and Oklahoma have joined the SEC fray, making the conference more competitive than ever. And teams like Ole Miss, LSU, and even Tennessee are circling, eager to capitalize on any vulnerability.
The schedule doesn’t do Georgia any favors either. A tough September stretch includes early road tests and physical conference games that will immediately reveal where this team stands. There will be no time for easing into the season. Mistakes that might have gone unpunished in the past will now be magnified.
Special teams, often overlooked, could play a pivotal role this year. Field position, hidden yardage, and reliable placekicking become even more critical when offensive consistency is in question. Georgia returns experience at punter and kicker, but in close games, those roles can determine outcomes.
Stockton’s story, meanwhile, is still unwritten. He could emerge as the next great Georgia quarterback, one who blends dual-threat ability with leadership and composure. Or he could struggle to find consistency behind a faltering line, prompting midseason evaluations and potentially a quarterback change. The stakes are high, and the pressure is real.
Ultimately, Georgia’s 2025 season will be a case study in program resilience. Can the Bulldogs maintain elite performance while managing transition? Can they win ugly when necessary and evolve schematically when required? For a team used to being the bully, learning how to take a punch might be the key to survival—and success.
Fans in Athens have been spoiled in recent years, and the expectations aren’t going anywhere. But this year feels different. There’s tension, a sense that the usual answers won’t be enough. Stockton’s ascent and the offensive line’s performance aren’t just talking points—they’re the fulcrum on which Georgia’s season balances.
The pieces are there. The coaching staff is elite. The culture is proven. But in 2025, nothing can be taken for granted. A leaky O-line and a shaky quarterback room don’t automatically doom a season, but they force hard questions—and demand even harder answers.
