Gunner Stockton’s second season as Georgia’s full-time starter is already drawing the usual split reaction: plenty of doubt from the national crowd, and plenty of hope from the people in Athens who know what a real quarterback surge can mean for the whole season.
That’s why On3 analyst JD Pickell’s latest prediction matters, at least as a jolt to the conversation. Pickell projected Stockton as a Heisman finalist this season, giving the Georgia quarterback’s campaign a noticeable boost.
Stetson Bennett was the last Bulldog to reach that stage, and that came during the last season Georgia won a National Championship and the last time the program won even one playoff game. That connection is hard to miss. If Georgia is going to solve some of those postseason issues, it may need a quarterback playing at a Heisman level.
Stockton has already shown he can get close. He finished seventh in Heisman Trophy voting last year, which was not enough to get him to the ceremony, but it did put him on the edge of the race.
Because of that, calling him a finalist this season is not some wild leap. Winning the award is a different matter.
There’s also the reality of how Georgia is built. Kirby Smart would love to see Stockton make a run at the Heisman or at least get invited to the ceremony, but he is not the kind of coach who is going to force numbers just to chase an award. Stockton likely wouldn’t want that approach either.
The Bulldogs’ running game could also work against a huge stat line for the quarterback. Nate Frazier and Chauncey Bowens are too talented to keep off the field, and every carry they get is one less chance for Stockton to pile up the kind of numbers that usually drive Heisman buzz.
And then there’s the part Stockton still has to clean up himself. If he wants to be a serious contender, he has to improve from last season, especially on the deep ball. Without that step forward, he won’t have much of a shot.
In the end, Georgia’s season matters more than any individual award. But if Stockton is truly in the Heisman mix, that probably means the Bulldogs are having the kind of year their fans want most.
In Other News...
Georgia Could Get Unexpected Veteran Help If Kirby Smart Says Yes
A recent court ruling has opened a new wrinkle for Georgias roster planning, one that could matter once NFL cutdowns are done and the transfer of talent between Athens and the league settles in. The decision gives athletes from the 2022 high school recruiting class a path to a fifth year of eligibility across college sports, and for Georgia it creates a possible safety net for experienced players who do not stick with their pro teams.
If Kirby Smart is willing to take them back, Georgia could potentially bring in veteran help from players who were once expected to move on for good. The issue now is less about whether there is a place for that kind of experience and more about whether the program wants to reopen the door at all, especially with roster spots at a premium and Smart often preferring to keep the focus on the current group. [Read more 🡒]
Georgia Recruiting Has New Momentum But One QB Concern Still Lingers
Georgia picked up another boost on the recruiting trail with four-star defensive back Seth Williams pledging to the Bulldogs, giving the staff its second defensive back commitment in the 2027 class. The addition fits the kind of momentum Georgia has built by stacking defensive talent early, and it also helps keep the attention on a class that is still taking shape while the staff works to hold onto its key pieces.
The bigger question, of course, remains at quarterback, where five-star Jayden Wade recently reaffirmed his commitment despite other programs continuing to press. Georgia has already seen how quickly things can shift at that spot, and the situation around Jared Curtis underscored how competitive the recruiting and retention battle can be for elite passers. For now, the Bulldogs have a commitment to lean on, but the chase around the position is clearly not over. [Read more 🡒]
Georgia High School Football Transfers Shake Championship Race With 10 Moves
The offseason movement across Georgia high school football has already started to reshape the 2026 championship picture, with several of the states biggest programs making additions that could matter once the real games begin. Thomas County Central, fresh off a Class 5A title, landed quarterback Aidan McPherson, while other contenders such as Carrollton, Lee County and McEachern also plugged important holes as they looked to stay in the thick of the race.
In a state where a single roster addition can tilt the balance among the top teams, these transfers give the contenders a different kind of edge heading into fall. The ripple effect stretches beyond just one school, too, because each move seems to force a response somewhere else in the bracket, setting up a championship chase that already feels more crowded and less predictable. [Read more 🡒]