Georgia quarterback Gunner Stockton led the Bulldogs to an SEC championship title and a 12-2 record in his first season as the Bulldogs’ QB1 after succeeding Carson Beck. Despite being limited due to a knee injury during Georgia’s spring training sessions, Stockton remains the Bulldogs’ presumptive starter under center next season.
ESPN Analyst Greg McElroy Questions Gunner Stockton’s Playoff Ceiling
During Wednesday’s segment of the “Always College Football” show, ESPN analyst Greg McElroy revealed the pivotal Stockton question that is facing head coach Kirby Smart’s Bulldogs next season in their quest for national championship glory.
“The question is not whether they can or will win the SEC, they probably will,” McElroy said. “The question is whether Gunner Stockton can become the guy that makes the throw that beats a team like Oregon or Indiana in the College Football Playoff. The addition of Isaiah Canion from Georgia Tech is potentially the answer to that on paper.
“Gunner Stockton has been praising what Canion is capable of. We need to see Stockton threading the needle on a back shoulder throw to Canion on a third and eight in the fourth quarter of a College Football Playoff game, with the game on the line. We need to see him make that designed throw, not the improvised throw. Can Stockton become that guy?”
Despite an impressive 150.6 passer rating that was among the highest in the SEC last season, Stockton has been under the spotlight due to the Bulldogs’ low explosive pass rate. Georgia had the best red-zone touchdown percentage (77.59%) in the SEC and the fifth-best third-down conversion rate (43.65%) in the conference.
Kirby Smart Addresses Gunner Stockton’s Need for Explosive Plays
Before the Bulldogs’ spring game on April 18, Smart addressed the issue of Stockton limiting Georgia’s explosive plays and how the Bulldogs have addressed the issue by surrounding the quarterback with more explosive playmakers.
“I think Gunner would be the first to tell you he wants to be more efficient,” Smart said. “He wants to be more explosive. That comes with having explosive playmakers around him. That comes with having an offensive line that gives him time to do it.
“That comes with his legs, which he did last year and had explosive plays through his legs. It’s just all around, how do we become more explosive?”
In his first season as a starter, Stockton earned a PFSN College QB Impact score of 88.0 after registering 2,894 passing yards on 69.7% completion, resulting in 24 touchdowns and 5 interceptions, while adding 462 rushing yards and 10 touchdowns.
