ESPN’s recent tiered assessment of college football quarterbacks placed Georgia’s signal‑callers in the third tier, a designation that underscores both the competitiveness of the SEC and the high bar set by programs such as Miami, Notre Dame, Ole Miss and Texas, which occupy the top tier.
The second tier includes LSU, Oregon and USC, while Ohio State anchors the second‑tier group, creating a landscape where Georgia must contend with a deep pool of talent to ascend.
Gunner Stockton’s 2025 campaign was marked by efficiency and playmaking, as he completed 69.7 percent of his passes for 2,894 yards and 24 touchdowns, while also rushing for 462 yards and 10 scores.
His dual‑threat ability was highlighted by a historic milestone: Stockton became the first Bulldogs quarterback to lead the team in rushing touchdowns since Frank Sinkwich in 1942, a feat that helped the team secure fourth‑quarter comebacks against Ole Miss, Tennessee and Florida in Jacksonville.
Analysts noted that Stockton finished the season with the second‑lowest interception percentage in program history, trailing only Greyson Lambert, and he is on track to post the lowest career interception rate ever recorded at Georgia.
Coach Kirby Smart praised Stockton’s performance and leadership throughout the regular season, emphasizing the quarterback’s poise under pressure and his ability to elevate teammates.
A Historical Lens
Historical perspective places Stockton among an elite group; he is the second Georgia quarterback in the past four seasons to finish among the top ten in the nation’s quarterback rankings, a lineage that stretches back to legends such as Aaron Rodgers, who last achieved a perfect 12‑for‑12 performance against a top‑five opponent in 2004.