Gunner Stockton is already seeing why Georgia is so intrigued by Isiah Canion.
The quarterback said the transfer wideout has made a strong impression this offseason, even though Canion is still new to Athens after arriving from Georgia Tech. Stockton pointed to the way Canion has handled the work since joining the program, and he sounded especially encouraged by how quickly the 6-foot-4 receiver has fit in.
“He is pretty special in pads,” Stockton told DawgNation at SEC Media Days. “He looks awesome.
But he’s done a great job of, you know, working and doing everything in the offseason. If it’s, you know, when it’s winter workouts, then it goes to spring.
Like, he had a great spring, and just the work he’s been putting into it. And, you know, he’s buying into the culture.
You’d think he’s been here for three years or two years. But he’s a great guy to go in and work with every day.”
Canion’s production at Georgia Tech last season gives Georgia a clear reason to expect more. He caught 33 passes for 480 yards and 4 touchdowns. At Warner Robins High School, he also shared the field with current Georgia defenders Isaiah Gibson and Rasean Dinkins.
Stockton’s comments on Canion came during a wide-ranging interview with Brandon Adams, where the Georgia quarterback touched on his growth, the offense around him and what he expects moving forward.
He said one of the biggest lessons from the past year has been learning how to handle a full season without getting pulled too far in either direction.
“I’ve learned, you know, going through a full season, having to deal with the highs and lows of a season, not being able to … not riding the high too high or the low too low. Just for me, just being the same guy every day and being consistent with showing up to the facility and working and at the end of the day doing my job and being there for everybody.”
Stockton also said he’s focused on getting his body ready for the grind ahead.
“I think truly just going through a whole season and knowing the wear and tear of a season, what your body can get down to. So I’m just trying to get my body in the right, going into the season in the right, what it needs to be and trying to just set myself up for success.”
When plays break down, Stockton said the key is knowing when to extend the action and when to get back on schedule. He noted that some of the biggest plays can come out of scrambles, but emphasized that the offense can’t depend on that every snap.
“Yeah, some of the most explosive plays come off of scrambles and making a play. But most of it’s like, you know, if the line, like, protection gets beat or, you know, the route isn’t there, just having to kind of get off schedule.
But it’s kind of, you can’t do that every time. You’ve got to play each play like it’s its own play and, you know, execute at the end of the day.
But whenever something like that happens, you’ve got to be able to extend and be able to also know when to run or extend a little bit to throw. Like, you’ve got to be able to make decisions on the move.
So that’s a big part of just knowing what to do and play each play like it’s own.”
Stockton also said the receiver room has given him plenty to work with, while making clear he still holds Zachariah Branch in high regard after last season’s record-setting run at Georgia.
“We’ve had a great group of guys come in, and it’s been fun to go into work with them every day. Obviously, everybody knows Zach.
He’s a great player, and I hope the best for him. He’s one of the best teammates I’ve played with.
But, you know, this year’s a new year, and I’m really excited for some of the new guys to play. And I’m excited just to, you know, go into the season.
I know all the work we put in, and we’ll go into fall camp, and it’ll just keep on going. Hopefully it’ll build, and we’ll set ourselves up for success.”
Stockton also addressed the running back room and said he’s hoping for the best for Dante Dowdell.
“Yeah, I hope the best for Dante. Everybody’s been thinking about him and hoping everything’s all right.
And, you know, outside of that, I hope, you know, not football-wise, like I hope he’s good. But, you know, our running back room, we’ve got a bunch of good running backs, and we’re really excited.
They’ll have a great year.”
In Other News...
Why Georgia Fans Should Feel Great About This 5-Star RB Miss
Georgia fans have reason to breathe a little easier about the running back future, even with one of the nations most buzzed-about 2027 prospects drawing bigger financial headlines elsewhere. Kemon Spell, the top-ranked back in the class, has already committed to Georgia, and the reported NIL package attached to that pledge is in the same range as what Nate Frazier signed for this offseason.
What makes the situation notable is less the number itself than the way Georgia continues to operate under Kirby Smart. The Bulldogs are still landing elite backs without chasing the biggest check on the board, leaning instead on development, winning and the belief that the right fit can matter more than the flashiest offer. For a program that has built its identity on sustaining success, that approach remains a pretty strong selling point. [Read more 🡒]
Kirby Smart Took Georgia Somewhere Bulldog Fans Once Only Imagined
A decade into Kirby Smarts run in Athens, the scale of what Georgia has become is hard to miss. The Bulldogs have spent most of his tenure doing what fans once only hoped they could do consistently: beating the rivals that shape the season, stacking SEC titles and turning the playoff into a familiar destination instead of a distant dream.
Smart got Georgia to the national championship game in just his second season, and everything since has reinforced how far the program has moved under his watch. The Bulldogs have gone 26-4 against Florida, Auburn and Georgia Tech during his tenure, won four SEC championships and reached the College Football Playoff five times, a stretch that has changed the standard in Athens even as the conversation around his era keeps finding new layers. [Read more 🡒]