Georgia’s award season keeps adding up, and this time the Bulldogs landed three more names on major national semifinalist lists.
Quarterback Gunner Stockton is among the 18 semifinalists for the Maxwell Award, while linebacker Chris Cole and safety KJ Bolden both made the 18-man Bednarik Award semifinalist group, according to Tuesday’s announcement. The Maxwell goes to the collegiate player of the year, and the Bednarik honors the country’s outstanding defensive player.
Stockton, a fifth-year graduate from Tiger, Ga., has put together a strong statistical season through the air and on the ground. He has completed 139 of 196 passes for 1,857 yards with 20 touchdown throws and only four interceptions.
He has also added 233 rushing yards and two scores. Nationally, he ranks fourth in passing efficiency at 180.1 and eighth in completion percentage at 70.9.
He was also named the National Football Foundation National Scholar-Athlete Award winner, sits in the top 10 for the Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award, and is part of the Davey O’Brien QB Class of 2026.
Cole has been a force all over the field for Georgia. The junior from Salem, Va., is tied for the team lead with 58 tackles and leads the Bulldogs with 41 solo stops, 11 tackles for loss and five sacks.
He also ranks second nationally with three fumble recoveries. Two of those turnovers turned into points: an 85-yard return for a touchdown against Oklahoma and a 66-yard score against Florida.
Bolden, a junior from Buford, Ga., has also made his mark on the back end of the defense. He has 31 tackles, two tackles for loss, half a sack and is tied for the team lead with two interceptions. One came against Oklahoma, when he returned it 29 yards, and the other came in Georgia’s win over Ole Miss, a 26-yard return.
Georgia returns home Saturday to host Missouri on Dooley Field in Sanford Stadium. ABC will carry the game at 3:30 p.m.
In Other News...
Why Missouri Poses A Real Threat To Georgia Again
Missouri keeps showing up as a tricky matchup because the Tigers do not lean on just one way to move the ball. They want to run it, but most of their yardage still comes through the air, which makes them harder to pin down than a team built around one clear identity. Add in a track record that has been respectable against ranked opponents, and Georgia is looking at a test that is more layered than a simple strength-on-strength collision.
The concern for the Bulldogs is that Missouri can also create extra possessions on defense, thanks to a strong turnover margin, while still finding enough playmakers to keep pressure on a game. Senior wide receiver Caydn Lee and quarterback Austin Simmons have both been central to that formula, with Simmons in particular giving the Tigers a passing element that can swing a contest if Georgia loses focus. The one area that still leaves questions is how often Missouri can finish drives when it gets close, and that could end up being the hinge point again. [Read more 🡒]
Georgia Suddenly Faces O-Line Uncertainty Ahead Of Missouri
Georgias offensive line suddenly has a little more uncertainty heading into Missouri after center Drew Bobo was added to the availability report as questionable. Bobo has started every game this season, so his status matters not just for the middle of the line, but for the continuity Georgia has leaned on all year. If he cant go, the Bulldogs would likely turn to Cortez Smith or Malachi Toliver at center.
Amaris Williams is also listed as out, adding another absence to monitor as Georgia gets ready for a game that could demand clean execution up front. Any change at center can ripple through protection calls and run-game timing, and the Bulldogs will be watching closely to see whether Bobo can answer the bell before kickoff. [Read more 🡒]
Why Mark Matthews Chose Georgia Is What Fans Will Love
Mark Matthews flip from Texas A&M to Georgia gave the Bulldogs another headline addition in a class already drawing plenty of attention, and it came with a twist that will resonate in Athens. The five-star offensive tackle is considered the No. 2 overall player in the country, and his decision adds more proof that Georgias recruiting pitch is still landing with elite prospects even when the market around them is crowded and aggressive.
What makes this move stand out is the way it reflects Georgias broader approach. The Bulldogs have built a reputation for pairing player development, championship expectations and a clear plan for the future, and Matthews reportedly chose that package even though other schools were offering more on the NIL front. For Georgia fans, that is the part worth savoring, because it suggests the programs appeal still reaches beyond the checkbook. [Read more 🡒]