Gunner Stockton gets one more chance before SEC play to show how far his game has come, and the spotlight is on the part of his development that drew the most attention last season: his passing mechanics.
Everyone already knows what Stockton brings with his legs. He’s tough, he sees the defense well, and he can make plays outside the pocket.
The bigger question has been his throwing motion, which came under scrutiny more than once last year. That’s where he put in real work this offseason.
The process started with his body. Stockton worked closely with a nutritionist and used DEXA scans to track and cut down his overall body fat. By the time spring practice rolled around, he had added 10 pounds of lean muscle and looked noticeably more sculpted.
From there, the focus shifted to the throwing side of the equation. Two areas were at the center of the work: his footwork on dropback passes and his throwing motion and arm angle on throws traveling more than 15 yards in the air. Those were the kinds of plays where his mechanics and accuracy could get shaky at times.
That makes this week against Western Kentucky a useful test, even if the role is still likely to be limited. Stockton was efficient in Week 1 against Tennessee State, completing 15 of 16 passes for 202 yards and three touchdowns in less than two quarters. But Georgia didn’t ask him to do much, and he didn’t run the ball at all.
Western Kentucky should offer a better glimpse of the offseason changes. The Hilltoppers use a bend-don’t-break defense, which means they can give up yards while trying to keep the scoreboard under control. That should create the kind of game script where Stockton can settle into his dropbacks and show the cleaner footwork Georgia has been working on.
Against Tennessee State, most of his throws were short ones - tunnel screens, passes to the flat and swing passes took up most of his 15 attempts. Against Western Kentucky, he should get more chances to work from the pocket, test the protection and throw some deeper balls, along with curl routes and deeper slants.
Those snaps may not decide much in the final score, with Georgia a heavy favorite, but they matter for what comes next. The Bulldogs travel to Arkansas in Week 3, and this is the last tune-up before SEC play.
What Georgia wants to see is simple: Stockton dropping deep dimes, hitting receivers in stride across the field and showing more consistency on the throws that gave him trouble a year ago. The Bulldogs should handle Western Kentucky. The bigger question is how they do it - and what Stockton looks like while making it happen.
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The timing matters because Georgia is also working around other absences, including wide receiver Thomas Blackshear and outside linebackers Chase Linton and Amaris Williams. That leaves the Bulldogs with a few different spots to monitor as the week goes on, and Greens availability could become one of the more important updates before the next game plan is finalized. [Read more 🡒]
Georgia Just Added Intrigue To One Of Its Biggest Recruiting Battles
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What stood out around the visit was Andrew Smart, Kirby Smarts son, who was observed helping during warmups and spending time with Jacobs. Georgia clearly had attention from one of the nations top prospects, but sources have indicated a flip would still be difficult, which is what makes this one worth watching as the Bulldogs try to stay in the mix. [Read more 🡒]
Kirby Smart Has One Real Concern About Gunner Stockton
Gunner Stocktons first full turn running Georgias offense against Western Kentucky came with the kind of production that will quiet a lot of noise in a hurry. He threw five touchdowns and guided the Bulldogs to scoring drives in six possessions, giving the offense a sharp, efficient feel as he settled into the job.
Kirby Smarts biggest takeaway, though, had less to do with the box score than with the hits Stockton chose to absorb along the way. With the backup situation not offering much margin for error, Smart wants his quarterback making smarter decisions about when to slide, get out of bounds or simply live to play the next snap, especially in games where his legs are not required to win. [Read more 🡒]