Kirby Smart on Gunner Stockton: He rises to the occasion
By Jacob Moss
Published:
The No. 5 Georgia Bulldogs are set for their biggest test of the early season later tonight against the team that has been their kryptonite over the past 15 years, the No. 17 Alabama Crimson Tide, and any path to victory for the Dawgs will likely have to go through junior quarterback Gunner Stockton.
The Georgia native and high school legend bided his time on the bench behind guys like Stetson Bennett and Carson Beck, and finally took the reins for the Dawgs’ offense this season.
He came into his own in Georgia’s come-from-behind win at Rocky Top a couple of weeks ago, and now he’ll be asked to snap the Dawgs’ 3-game skid against the Crimson Tide at home between the hedges.
Georgia head coach Kirby Smart firmly believes that Stockton has what it takes to rise to whatever challenge he is given, though, and he sat down with SEC Nation on Saturday morning to talk about what he believes makes his quarterback so special.
“He’s just such a great competitor, and he rises to the occasion,” Smart said. “He’s one of those guys who trains really hard, he prepares really hard, it’s important to him. So in the big moments, he’s thought about what he needs to do. Coach Bobo and the offensive staff put him in good situations, so he’s handled it all really well so far, and he’s got a big test today.”
There’s no question that Stockton has a massive test on deck, but if he can rise to the occasion once again and lead the Dawgs past the Tide, then he’ll have written another chapter in what’s shaping up to be a legendary career under center in Athens for himself.
