The Georgia Bulldogs’ national championship hopes now rest on the shoulders of a relative unknown – backup quarterback Gunner Stockton. After starter Carson Beck suffered a concerning right elbow injury in the first half of the SEC Championship Game, the Dawgs are turning to the unproven sophomore to lead them into battle against the Notre Dame Fighting Irish in the College Football Playoff quarterfinals.
Head coach Kirby Smart admitted that with the stakes as high as they are, getting Stockton properly prepared is priority number one. “He got lots of reps prior to these practices, but he’s getting much more now,” Smart revealed. “I do think … when you get ready for an opponent like Notre Dame, you need time, and we have time.”
Baptism By Fire for Bulldogs’ Backup
While Stockton saw limited action in relief of Beck during the SEC title tilt, completing 12 of 16 passes for 71 yards and an interception, being thrown into the pressure cooker of the playoffs is a whole different animal. Georgia’s championship dreams depend on the young signal-caller growing up in a hurry.
Smart emphasized that beyond increased practice reps with the first team offense, Stockton’s ability to rise to the occasion will depend heavily on the quality of the looks and situations he faces leading up to the Notre Dame showdown.
“The biggest thing is just competition at practice. You know, the situations we put him in. All those things allow him to get better as a quarterback.”
– Kirby Smart, Georgia Head Coach
Questions Linger Around Beck’s Status
The severity and specifics of Beck’s injury remain cloaked in mystery. The senior standout, who led the Bulldogs to a 24-3 record as a starter over the past two seasons, is reportedly still weighing treatment options with his family that could include surgery.
Despite engineering the winning touchdown drive against Texas on literally one good arm, Beck was visibly compromised and unable to even raise his right arm in the on-field celebrations. With the Notre Dame clash fast approaching, Smart could only offer vague updates on his quarterback’s status.
“The only thing I can update is that they’re still going through those deliberations in terms of the decision-making process time, all the kind of decisions they have to make as a family.”
– Kirby Smart
Will a New-Look Attack Emerge?
On the surface, the shift from Beck to Stockton doesn’t portend a major schematic shift for the Dawgs’ offense. Both are considered quality athletes and Smart downplayed the idea of Stockton’s mobility forcing wholesale changes.
“I think we are who we are in regards to that. I mean, we played an entire season, offensively. You know, Gunner’s a good athlete. I think Carson is a good athlete. So it’s one of those deals that I don’t know how much that changes things.”
– Kirby Smart
Still, there’s no denying Stockton brings a different style and energy that could open up new wrinkles for a UGA attack that sputtered down the stretch. After lighting up the SEC for over 3,900 yards and 24 TDs a year ago, Beck struggled with turnovers in 2024, tossing 12 interceptions to go with his 28 scoring strikes.
The Bottom Line
With their national title defense on the line, Georgia has no choice but to roll the dice with Stockton under center. The uber-talented yet green backup has massive shoes to fill in Beck’s absence, with no margin for error against a formidable Notre Dame side.
- Pressure is on Stockton to prove he’s ready for the big stage
- Questions abound on if/when Beck could return
- UGA attack could see new looks with more athletic QB
For Stockton and the Bulldogs, it all comes down to preparation and poise. If Smart can get his new QB1 up to speed and Stockton can handle the bright lights, Georgia still has the talent to make a serious run at a repeat. But with little room for growing pains, the learning curve needs to be accelerated – and fast. The title defense depends on it.
