For the Dawgs, things weren’t always clicking on offense last season. They had a major problem catching the ball, and while Carson Beck finished with 12 interceptions, you got to remember they also led the nation with a staggering 36 dropped passes. And it wasn’t just the offense; the defense wasn’t exactly its usual lights-out unit either, giving up 329.7 yards per game. Georgia ended up 11-3 after winning the SEC Championship, but then fell to Notre Dame in the Sugar Bowl. By Athens standards, or Kirby Smart standards, that’s just not going to cut it.
Now, with Gunner Stockton taking the reins at quarterback for this season, there are high expectations but also lingering questions. And if Kirby Smart wants a successful season, he needs to fix that falling run game. That’s exactly what analyst Josh Pate stressed, landing Georgia at No. 11 in his post-spring Power Rankings. As Pate put it, “Georgia’s got to be able to run the ball at least much better than they did last year. Now, like I said with other teams, any proud program that struggled to do something they typically are able to do spends the entire winter, and spring, and summer figuring out how to do that thing. So that is one of the main things they’ve been focused on there. I don’t doubt that. I know that.”
Georgia’s rushing attack really struggled in 2024, averaging a dismal 124.4 yards per game—the lowest under Kirby Smart and second-to-last in the SEC, ahead only of LSU. That was their worst conference showing since 2016. They fell nearly 50 yards short of their next least productive season under Smart. Even adding Trevor Etienne didn’t instantly fix things.
Now that Etienne’s off to the pro league, keep an eye on massive 360-pound offensive tackle Juan Gaston—he could be key to boosting that run game. Josh Pate sees potential in him and transfer running back Josh McCray from Illinois, saying, “But you know they went and got Josh McCray, a running back from Illinois. He’s not there yet. I think he’s finishing up class. If they are what they should be game-wise again, he’ll be a big reason why. I’ll tell you another one—Juan Gaston, who I don’t even know, is listed as a starting offensive lineman there. That’s the kind of guy, though. I know you heard some good things about him in spring.”
Bulldogs OL coach Stacy Searels is high on Gaston’s physical tools too: “The one thing you see in Juan is he does have the great size to be an offensive tackle. But his athleticism, you know, I went and watched him play basketball. I’ve seen him score 27 points. I’ve seen him run up and down the court at 350. But just his athleticism, you know, watching him play and watching him practice in person last spring, watching him play, watching him pull and run for a kid that big was very impressive.”
It makes sense why Pate is urging Smart to use Gaston to help out the run game. “If they are to maximize their potential running the ball, that’s the kind of guy that—probably listed with twos or threes right now—needs to emerge for Georgia. And body-wise, he needs to get himself in the proper shape. But if he’s there, you know, those are the kind of names you’ll start to hear in fall camp if Georgia is to be what they’re supposed to be running the ball,” Pate said. Because, believe it or not, a single mistake surrounding Gunner Stockton could derail their championship hopes this season.
For Kirby Smart it all comes down to Gunner Stockton at QB
Georgia’s future definitely sits squarely on Gunner Stockton. He steps into the starting QB spotlight with plenty of unanswered questions, having thrown just 83 career passes before getting significant time late in 2024 when Carson Beck was injured. Joel Klatt ranks Georgia eighth and notes the uncertainty around Stockton, saying, “There are a lot of mixed opinions on Stockton and he could be a really quality player, but I haven’t seen that yet.” His limited experience leaves fans wanting to see more.
But let’s not forget how Stockton showed composure filling in for Beck in the SEC Championship win against Texas and then starting the Sugar Bowl against Notre Dame. Despite a couple of turnovers in the Sugar Bowl loss, he completed 32 of 48 passes for 305 yards and a touchdown across those tough spots, showcasing resilience—even after losing his helmet—and showing grit over just flashy plays.
Georgia faces a brutal 2025 schedule, including home games against Texas, Alabama, and Ole Miss, and tough road trips to Auburn and Tennessee. However, Stockton’s season starts less intensely with Marshall and Austin Peay, offering chances to build confidence.
Coach Smart noted some inconsistencies from Stockton after the G-Day spring scrimmage. “Confidence, understanding the offense, knowing when to take a shot, which he didn’t do a great job today,” Smart said. “He had a couple times where he could have thrown the ball or checked it down. He took shots that he probably didn’t have to. But he’s done a really good job with his feet, his legs.”
Kirby Smart knows Gunner Stockton can’t replicate Carson Beck’s workload alone. To help, Georgia added talented receivers Noah Thomas and Zachariah Branch. Georgia’s shot at the top spot? It all hinges on how much Stockton grows and how much that run game improves.
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