Georgia fans cast your mind back to 2017. Kirby Smart named Jacob Eason as his starting quarterback, despite his inconsistent performances in the previous season. Yet, Smart went ahead with Eason ahead of freshman Jake Fromm. As fate would have it, Eason injured his knee in the season opener and Fromm took over. Georgia reached the national championship game with Fromm, who made the role his own. While you may think this is a one-off, Smart has had hard luck when it comes to picking his team’s quarterback.

He picked JT Daniels as his QB in 2021, but frequent and multiple injuries to Daniels forced him to hand the spot to Stetson Bennett IV, who helped Georgia to back-to-back national titles. So, when it came to this recent season Smart again faced a choice between seasoned QB Carson Beck and freshman Gunner Stockton, but luck would again desert Smart.

In his four years with the Georgia Bulldogs, Beck rarely had an off game. After waiting for his turn behind Georgia’s hero Stetson Bennett, Beck grabbed the chance to impress as he finished the previous season throwing for 3,941 yards and recording 28 total touchdowns. But 2024 felt like a step down. And when he went down with an injury late in the season, it might have cost the Dawgs their shot at a historic third title under Kirby Smart. The fix? It was simple. Protect the QB and keep your options open.

If Smart had reinforced the offensive line and given Stockton his due run, Georgia could have been back in the title game. Though he leaned too heavily on Beck, nobody could have foreseen an injury to their star player in the SEC Championship game. Smart was forced to turn to Stockton, who delivered but Georgia couldn’t go any further that the Sugar Bowl. However, with the new season approaching and Beck out of the equation, Smart faces another dilemma.

According to analysts on 247Sports, Kirby Smart might be on the verge of facing another challenge with his next QB decision. With Beck’s departure, all eyes are on Gunner Stockton — the guy expected to take over the reins. The freshman we saw stepping up in the SEC Championship now carries a massive weight on his shoulders, should Smart name him QB1.

Stockton was electric in the SEC title game coming on for an injured Beck. He led three scoring drives and picked up a crucial overtime first down. Against Texas, he was solid, throwing for 71 yards. But now there is some skepticism and it could shake up the entire Bulldogs QB race.

Kirby Smart will have to carefully assess Stockton’s potential to be the starting QB, especially when another option is right there in Athens, per 247Sports’ Andrew Ivins. He broke it down, saying, “I think there’s some limitations with him (Gunner Stockton), and I’m not sure right now. Ryan Puglisi is there in Athens, you know, a former Elite 11 quarterback that Georgia was really high on when they signed him. He showed up in Athens a little banged up. He was a multi-sport guy.“ With Puglisi in the mix, Smart will find himself with another tough choice.

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Ryan Puglisi was a four-star prospect in the 2024 class but missed some time during the spring due to a knee injury. He was named to the 2023 Elite 11 Finals Roster after leading Avon Old Farms High School to a 7-2 record and the Drew Gamere NEPSAC Bowl. At 6’3, 210 pounds, Puglisi carries an extremely athletic and powerful frame and arm that can make all of the throws.

Ivins didn’t stop there with his praise for Ryan Puglisi. He took a deep dive into the quarterback’s past, highlighting his athleticism and potential. “I went back and pulled out my notes from his high school evaluation. I revisited the senior tape, and you know, he is someone who can beat you with his legs — same with Gunner Stockton. But I’m under the impression, just from watching what Georgia has done on the recruiting front at the quarterback position, that they want to get a little more athletic,” said the CFB insider. As of now, with Puglisi’s skill set and Georgia’s desire for a more mobile QB, could he be the Bulldogs’ next big playmaker?

The biggest aspect of Puglisi’s game is his mobility. He has the ability to extend plays with his legs and remain focused downfield while on the move. Puglisi can make plays both in and out of the pocket and can utilize run plays featuring him. This is something to consider for Smart and Georgia.

His decision to stay at Georgia despite powerhouse offers from the Miami Hurricanes and Minnesota Golden Gophers, clearly suggests he is looking to make his name in Athens. But will he get the chance? He is still fresh and has not thrown a pass in a game for the program and though the departure of Beck and Jaden Rashada has pushed him to the QB2 spot for now, there will still be the clamor to go with Stockton as number 1.

But Ivins’ confidence in Ryan Puglisi only grows stronger and he believes Stockton as a starting QB is not guaranteed.

So, who will it be — Gunner or Pug? As Ivins put it, “I’m just saying, don’t be surprised if we get into spring practices and it’s not all just, ‘Hey, Gunnar Stockton’s our guy.’ Kirby Smart wants to create competition. I think Ryan Pugi, as he enters Year Two, needs to factor into all of this when we talk about the offense.” So, the QB battle in Athens is heating up, and the future of Georgia’s offense is still up for grabs.

Kirby Smart will hope that whatever choice he makes, it pays off for him and that his new QB doesn’t suffer the Carson Beck fate. He will also do good to not simply decide his QB1 based on their tenure or previous efforts. He has the chance to nurture a strong QB depth with both Stockton and Puglisi.

With spring ball around the corner, Georgia fans might get their answer soon. But what has Smart planned for the program’s future?

Kirby Smart’s next move

Georgia’s OC Mike Bobo isn’t asking Gunner Stockton to fill Carson Beck’s shoes — he’s asking him to be himself. His message was loud and clear: “My message to Gunner, 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. And you can’t try to be Carson Beck. 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.”

That’s a powerful statement from the Bulldogs’ OC. Sure, Stockton will always be measured against Beck. But the only way to truly rise to the occasion? Stay true to himself. But Kirby Smart’s OC didn’t just talk about Gunner Stockton’s role — he pointed out the real challenge ahead: Team chemistry.

He emphasized how crucial it is for the Bulldogs to adjust, saying: “You’ve got the things that the guys and their favorites are going into the game. And a lot of them on my sheet are stars of what Carson’s might be his favorite of what we have on the menu. So I had to go back over what Gunner’s favorites were for those situations. Then you address the football team and talk about, hey, this is what we’re going to do.”

That right there is a huge shift for the offense. The real question heading into 2025 — can the team find its rhythm with Stockton leading the charge? Let’s say Stockton struggles next season — does that mean all hope is lost? Not at all. He’s still just a sophomore with sky-high potential. If you look at his past performances, he wasn’t bad at all for a freshman stepping into big moments. He showed flashes of talent, confidence, and playmaking ability. But Puglisi will lie waiting for his opportunity, ready to pounce at any misstep by Stockton. If Smart is able to build a healthy competition for the QB1 role, he may finally overcome the ghosts of the past and lead Georgia to further success.