Man, if you blinked Saturday in Athens, you probably missed about 30 passes, a crowd hotter than a waffle house griddle, and a quarterback room that just turned into a soap opera. Yeah, G-Day wasn’t even on TV this year—which means if you weren’t packed into Sanford Stadium with 35,000 rabid Dawg fans and a bag of boiled peanuts, you straight-up missed the drama unfold live. But trust—just ’cause it wasn’t televised, it don’t mean it ain’t newsworthy. Matter fact, what happened behind those hedges might just change Kirby Smart‘s whole QB plan for the fall.
National Analyst, J.D. PicKell, hopped onto On3 and spilled some hot tea after their spring game, saying, “Gunner Stockton struggled a little bit early, alright? Took a little bit of time to get warmed up—you get the wing loose, it takes a second. But then sounds like he caught fire in that third quarter.” He added that intel from Jake Rowe over at DawgsHQ noted four throws over 20 yards. Translation? The deep ball might be alive again in Athens, and Gunner might just have that Dawg in him.
Here’s a full meat: Gunner Stockton came out sluggish but flipped the switch like a light bill got paid late. The QB1 went nuclear in the 3rd quarter and had folks hollering in the stands. By the end of the scrimmage, he tossed two touchdown bombs—one to Sacovie White to close the curtain, and another to Jeremy Bell that traveled 31 yards of “yeah, I can sling it” energy. His final stat line? 17-of-34, 309 yards, 2 tuddies and a pick. Not perfect, but flashy enough to remind Kirby why he was on the roster in the first place.
J.D. Pickell gave some credits to Ryan Puglisi, “Now Ryan Puglisi—what have we said around him? I mean, the entire time we’ve talked about him in the context of this quarterback battle between him and Gunner Stockton: talented quarterback, he’s young, a little bit inexperienced—a lotta bit inexperienced—an d he looked that way in the G-Day. Like, they talk about the arm talent he has—that exists—but he just hasn’t had a ton of meaningful snaps at Georgia just yet.” Ryan Puglisi was trying to throw like his eligibility depended on it. The freshman launched 49 passes—yeah, FORTY-NINE—and ended with 224 yards, 2 touchdowns, and a pick. Not bad for someone barely shaving. He flashed, but you could tell the seasoning ain’t there yet. He tossed a nice one to Colbie Young, though, which showed a glimpse of what could be once he settles down. But for now? Gunner got the juice and QB1 title.
Now look—Kirby Smart ain’t dumb. He knows depth wins titles and insurance ain’t just for your car. JD Pickell said it best: “If Georgia goes and adds a transfer portal quarterback, it should surprise nobody… this is just what Kirby Smart does, dude.” He ain’t lying. Kirby will turn over every stone, scout every JUCO in Timbuktu if it means his QB room don’t fall apart by Week 6. Especially now that Carson Beck dipped for 4 million and some sunshine in Miami.
And y’all already know that NIL bag was supposed to land Kirby a smooth backup plan: a $2.7 million arm named Jared Curtis. Welp, it ain’t all sunshine and rainbows. That plan’s in the dirt now.
The $2.7 mil QB snubs Kirby Smart’s Georgia and his transfer portal decision
Jared Curtis, the five-star, 6-foot-4 quarterback outta Nashville Christian, just ghosted the Dawgs like an ex who left the read receipts on. He was supposed to pull up to Athens one last time before his May 5 commitment. But instead? Lil bro said, ‘I’m going to prom.’ And honestly, can’t blame him—suits, slow jams, and not having Kirby Smart asking you to sign your life away? Kinda hard to pass up.
Curtis had been committed to Georgia once before, from March to October 2024. But now? It’s looking like Oregon is about to finesse the QB Georgia had circled in red Sharpie. And this ain’t just any QB. 247Sports has him ranked No. 2 in the entire country and the top QB overall. Big frame, big game, strong arm, and legs that move like a stallion on Red Bull. He was gonna be that “set it and forget it” future for Georgia. Kirby ain’t gotten a five-star QB since Justin Fields (Probably), and Curtis was supposed to end that drought like spring rain.
So now what? Kirby’s back at square one. Curtis bailing out means Georgia has zero elite QB talent locked up for 2026, and the transfer portal becomes not a backup plan but the plan. The spring window opens April 16, and you best believe Georgia got eyes on every QB with a pulse and a halfway-decent spiral. Problem is? Pickings are slim. Real slim. Like “is-this-gas-station-sandwich-still-good?” slim.
The biggest name out there? Nico Iamaleava. And even he’s stuck in SEC purgatory. After splitting with Tennessee over an NIL meltdown, he can’t touch a football in this conference till he sits a year. So unless Kirby wants to play chess with the NCAA or make friends with a West Coast QB who ain’t scared of the SEC heat, the Dawgs might have to roll with what they got. It’s clear now—if Jared Curtis had just signed on the dotted line, Kirby could’ve chilled on this portal madness. Instead, he’s low-key urged to do portal shopping. Look, most elite guys are locked up. The leftovers? Either got baggage or need fixing. And Kirby ain’t really got time for a “maybe” project.
This whole saga—from Beck bouncing to Miami, to Gunner making noise, to Curtis curving Georgia like a bad date—just turned the Bulldogs’ QB room into a weekly soap opera. But don’t get it twisted. Kirby loves chaos. He breathes in competition like it’s pregame oxygen. You think he’s not gonna find someone to stir the pot? Please.
“If they go and grab somebody via the portal,” PicKell said, “I would be surprised if they’re able to… win the job and prove they are the guy for Georgia.” Translation? Even if Kirby shops the portal, it might still be Gunner’s job to lose. And after what we saw at G-Day? Dawg might just be ready to run the yard. So buckle up, Georgia fans. Prom season might’ve cost you a $2.7 million QB, but G-Day just might’ve found you a diamond in Gunner. Portal storm or not—Kirby’s gonna keep cooking. And you already know how he does when the stove gets hot.
The post National Analyst Confirms Gunner Stockton’s Georgia Future as $2.7M Snub Worsens Kirby Smart Transfer Portal Decision appeared first on EssentiallySports.
