UGA Football Coach Kirby Smart Send Big Message About The Quarterback Race

ACT NOW: GET 3 MONTHS OF DAWG POST & 2025 PREVIEW FOR $15 | OFFER IS LIMITED TIME

ATHENS - When Georgia Bulldog head coach Kirby Smart selected Gunner Stockton to attend SEC Media Days last week, most assumed it was a clear message that Stockton is Georgia’s outright starting quarterback.

However, that assumption would be inaccurate. For now.

Smart made it clear to reporters last week that he doesn’t plan on announcing a starting quarterback anytime soon.

“I don’t name starters,” Smart said. “We’ll see them this fall. We’ll see them go through two game-like scrimmages against a really good defense. We’ll see them in 3rd dow situations and we’ll put them in pressure-cooker situations.”

After what happened at the end of last season, it safe to say Stockton has a clear lead on backup Ryan Puglisi. He’s been in the program for several years now, he’s played meaningful minutes, and he knows how to lead. That's something Smart made very clear last week.

DON’T FORGET YOUR FANDUEL BETS!!

According to FanDuel, the Oklahoma City Thunder have +240 odds to win the 2026 NBA Finals next summer. this fall.

“I don’t think it was a message about confidence (bringing Stockton to Media Days) as much as it was a message about leadership,” Smart said. “He’s separated himself as a great leader on the team. We try to bring people here who can affect others and he’s done that in spring practice. Ryan’s been awesome too. They’re still going to keep competing in everything they do. Gunner knows that he’s got to go out and play well. He’s done a tremendous job this summer and we’ve talked with the staff about it. We felt like the plays he had at the end of last year and the way that he performed this spring that he deserved to come. He’s the guy who leads that offense right now.”

That last sentence said a lot.

Gunner Stockton is the one who leads the offense. Right now. He’ll likely be the starter when Marshall comes to town but Smart isn’t ready to make it official. That’s just how he does things.

Is that to put more pressure on Stockton? To keep him hungry through fall camp?

Or is a message to Puglisi that he really does have a shot at winning the job?

Ryan Puglisi is extremely talented. There’s no doubting that. But Gunner’s been around longer. Insiders say he’s mastered the playbook. He’s obviously an important leader. He’s made big throws in his limited action. He’s helped win an SEC Championship. He’s got everything the staff is looking for.

To see Puglisi start the 2025 season would be surprising. However, Kirby Smart wants him to keep competing. To keep him battling. To come to practice every day preparing like he’s the starter. That’s what Stockton did and it helped them win an SEC title.

So is Kirby Smart telling the truth? Or is it all coach-speak?