Adversity can shove you down paths that seem treacherous but are actually a blessing in disguise. Cast your minds back, and that’s what happened with Kirby Smart and his Georgia Bulldogs in the SEC Championship Game this season. The Georgia offense was essentially stagnant and devoid of any dynamism all through the first half. They garnered a total of 54 yards on Texas’ airtight defense. Right before the midway point came a watershed moment. QB1 Carson Beck went down with an injury to his throwing arm. What could have potentially caused pandemonium actually became the reason for their success that day and seemingly changed the trajectory of their offense. However, the new era with Stockton as their QB does not look as exciting as we expected it to be one SEC savant and insider believes the same. Even if it means to look beyond Stockton.

The injury forced the introduction of backup QB Gunner Stockton. This switch behind center essentially transformed Georgia’s modus operandi back to its roots under Kirby Smart. The Bulldogs leaned on their run game and defense the rest of the way. They scored a TD on their very first drive with Stockton, which revitalized the whole team en route to a 22-19 OT win. Not only did this reform their path to the proverbial crown of the SEC, but it also expedited a new era in Athens before coach Smart planned for it to happen. Carson Beck is now all the way in South Florida, and Gunner Stockton is QB1 for the Bulldogs. Or so we assume.

It may have always been the case that Stockton was destined to be atop the depth chart for 2025. Or, his instant impact in the biggest of spots could have earned him some brownie points. Regardless, it does appear to be the case. Kirby Smart’s quarterback room has never been star-studded. His teams are always a sum of its parts rather than being dependent on a QB. However, this time around, it looks particularly frail. At Least in terms of quantity and experience. And this is more of a requisite need, than a luxurious yearning.

Over on the “Locked on SEC” podcast, Chris Gordy discussed the lack of depth and veteran presence Kirby Smart has under center. This comes in tandem with them losing more experience in the backfield with RB Trevor Etienne leaving for the NFL. The concerns weren’t necessarily about talent. They were about know-how. “Georgia does not have a proven, experienced starter in their quarterback room entering the spring,” said Gordy. He suggested Coach Smart dip into the portal class. “Maybe go get a journeyman or just somebody to add some [experience]. An experienced clipboard holder, who can kind of be the eyes and ears of Gunner Stockton from the sideline.” Reporting around Georgia adding a new QB has been mild and sporadic so far.

The Georgia Bulldogs have been perennial contenders in the Kirby Smart era. Year after year, they are in the reckoning to win it all and have 2 national titles to show for it. A huge chunk of this success is a proponent of coach Smart’s acumen and the program’s culture from the top down. However, it’s also due to the personnel Kirby Smart has at his disposal. Now, relative to their own standards, the 2024 receiving Corp. was a rung below the likes of Brock Bowers and Ladd McConkey. The Bulldogs led the FBS in dropped catches. They’ve bolstered this fractured unit with former USC star Zachariah Branch and Texas A&M’s Noah Thomas. With this problem likely solved, Coach Smart and OC Mike Bobo know the onus falls on quarterback play. Bobo thus relayed a stern warning to next-in-command Gunner Stockton.

Mike Bobo resounds what psyche a QB needs to adopt to thrive in a Kirby Smart team

Mike Bobo is one of the most polarizing figures in Athens. Opinion of him and his play-calling divides the fanbase. For all his acumen and situational awareness, Bobo has let himself and the fans down on a few occasions. To be fair to him, he’s never worked with an NFL first-round caliber QB while at Georgia. He realized this and the fact that he needs to elevate the personnel he works with. As he prepares for a new QB to spearhead his offense, Bobo had this to say:

“My message to Gunner [Stockton], and really to any quarterback that I’ve ever coached, is you have to be Gunner Stockton. You can’t try to be Coach Kirby Smart or Coach Mike Bobo. You can’t try to be Carson Beck.”  It’s very conspicuous that Carson is a different type of quarterback to Gunner. The former leans much more on his arm, and his imminent successor is very much a dual-threat who leans on his legs a lot more. Bobo continued, “You can’t try to be Jake Fromm or Stetson Bennett. You have to be Gunner Stockton.  Because I’m going to be Mike Bobo, and I want you to be Gunner Stockton. And if we’re who we are all the time around each other, I think that’s where the trust goes.“  Bobo also voiced the challenges awaiting Stockton ahead of his sophomore year.

Mike Bobo and Kirby Smart will seek to permeate their wealth of experience into the raw and malleable Gunner Stockton. Following Chris Gordy’s advice and bringing in a 2nd quarterback who can guide Stockton through the growing pains could be a shrewd move. It’ll be something Coach Smart definitely has thought about. 2 games in, Stockton has experienced the highs of winning the SEC and the lows of losing in the CFP. When you’re the Georgia QB, prepare to always be in and around this magnitude of the game.