Scouting Georgia: Gunner Stockton Leads Dominant Bulldogs
Florida fans may hate Georgia, but the program’s dominance over college football throughout the 2020s is undeniable. The Bulldogs, who are 71-8 since the beginning of the 2021 season, boast two national championships, three SEC championships and five consecutive SEC championship appearances to prove their supremacy over the sport. That is why the position that Georgia enters this season’s installment of the annual Florida-Georgia rivalry is so rare in the scope of Kirby Smart’s tenure as coach.
Georgia thrived through its first six games, climbing to the top spot in the Week 6 AP Top 25 Poll after a blemish-free record. Just a week later, the top-ranked Bulldogs were stunned by a 27-24 home loss to unranked Auburn, trending UGA down heading into its bye week. The Bulldogs now try to avoid losing back to back games since 2016 with the Gators on tap.
The No. 17 Gators (5-2, 3-2 SEC) head into their matchup with No. 3 Georgia (6-1, 4-1) on the opposite end of the momentum scale. Florida trekked to Austin, Texas, leaving with a crucial upset over then-No. 7 Texas and putting UF’s season back on track after consecutive losses.
As the cowboy-hat wearing Florida coach Jon Sumrall and his team departed the Lone Star State, a return to the rankings supported the positive result and gave the Gators much to build on. However, the gift they receive for their effort as they exit the break is a meeting with one of the most statistically complete teams in college football.
Georgia supports its offense with one of the strongest defensive units in all of FBS, allowing an SEC-best ranked 15.9 points per game. UGA is also a stalwart in stopping an opponent’s run game, allowing 91.4 rushing yards per game, which ranks 11th in the nation. The impressive marks extend to the Bulldogs’ offense, which ranks second nationally with 43.0 points per game and 14th nationally in total offense with 469.9 yards per game. Leading the charge of those offensive outputs is a familiar face who took down Florida last year.
Quarterback Gunner Stockton continues to shine in his fourth year with the Bulldogs as one of the most efficient quarterbacks in all of college football. Stockton holds the second-highest passing efficiency in the nation at 185.9, a stat that relates a passer’s performance to how much they throw the ball. Along those lines, Stockton is the most accurate quarterback in the SEC, finding his receivers 74.1% of the time. The senior quarterback is one of the mainstays on Georgia’s roster, with Florida coach Jon Sumrall noting how Stockton’s identity is imprinted on the team’s composition.
“The character of a football team is embodied in the quarterback,” Sumrall said Monday. “This quarterback is a tough, competitive winner. It’s in his DNA. And so I think the football team they have reflects him.”
While Stockton has been one of the best statistical quarterbacks in the SEC, he is not infallible. Auburn brought down Stockton twice and forced him to throw two interceptions, with the Tigers’ pressure rattling the veteran and providing the blueprint on beating Georgia.
On the other end of the line of scrimmage, Georgia’s ferocious defense is led by linebackers Raylen Wilson and Chris Cole. The duo’s resume includes 6.5 of UGA’s 22 sacks, with Wilson leading the team in the category with four sacks. While the former of the two leads the unit, Cole is the one who stands out to Sumrall as a possible gamewrecker for Florida’s chances of a victory.
“He’s a really good player, man,” Sumrall said Monday. “You turn on the tape, and he jumps out.”
Florida’s starting quarterback, a question that still remains with no starter named as of Thursday, could be in for a long day if Wilson and Cole play up to their standard. Add their intensity with the tension the annual rivalry brings and sparks are certain to fly from Atlanta. While the matchup moves from Everbank Stadium in Jacksonville, Florida, due to renovations, the love that is lost between the enemies packs its bags for the Peach State as well.
If Florida is to pull off an upset over the 10.5-point favorite Georgia, a lot must go in its favor. The most important factors of the bunch start with finding a way to make Stockton uncomfortable and find ways to exploit one of the most sound defensive units in the nation. If the Gators can do that, then their upward swing in this middle part of the season will continue.
Kickoff from Mercedes-Benz Stadium for the first ranked matchup between the teams since 2020 is set for Saturday 3:30 on ABC. Coverage starts at 12:30 p.m. on the Gators Sports Network on WRUF 98.1-FM/850-AM/103.7 HD2.
“They’re really good. They’re a team that you turn the tape on, you don’t see weakness,” Sumrall said Monday. “Usually, as a coach, you’re trying to figure out what our team’s strengths and weaknesses (are) — I see a lot of strengths; I don’t see weakness.”
Category: Feature Sports News, Gator Sports, Gators Football
