Georgia's Backup QB Gets His Chance

Gunner Stockton has spent his Georgia career overshadowed by big-name, blue-chip recruits. Now, thanks to an injury to the Bulldogs starting quarterback, he’s getting thrust into the spotlight.

- LAINE HIGGINS

This season's Georgia Bulldogs boast a roster that may rightly be regarded as one of the most talented in college football history.

The Southeastern Conference champions are loaded with bluechip recruits, including 69 players who were rated as four- or fivestar prospects, the highest number in the nation. This team is so stacked that even the kicker was the No. 1 player in his class at his position.

But when Georgia takes on Notre Dame in the College Football Playoff quarterfinals at the Sugar Bowl next week, its hopes will rest on the shoulders of a player whose own career hasn't been quite so distinguished.

Gunner Stockton, a redshirt sophomore quarterback, wasn't a top-100 recruit. He has never started a single game in college.

And in his three years on campus, he's thrown as many interceptions as touchdowns.

But following an injury to starter Carson Beck in the SEC Championship game, Stockton will be the one tasked with leading the talent-loaded Bulldogs to a third national championship in four seasons.

"It's a unique situation," said George Bobo, a longtime coach in Georgia who trained Stockton from the age of six. "He's got to go in the playoffs and never started a game in college." What's certain is that no one is likely to confuse Stockton with Georgia's regular starter at quarterback. While Beck owns a Lamborghini and is dating basketball player-turned-influencer Hanna Cavinder, Stockton drives his grandfather's 1985 Ford pickup truck with a CB radio. His hometown girlfriend once lamented that the only things he cares about are football, hunting and fishing.