BREAKING: UGA Football coach Kirby Smart Talks About Gunner Stockton's Injury

ATHENS - UGA Football QB Gunner Stockton was slowed by a leg injury at the start or spring practice, coach Kirby Smart said Tuesday at Butts-Mehre Heritage Hall. 

"He's practicing. He had a little offseason injury in our workouts, but he's fine now. He was limited a little bit first couple days, but he's out there competing doing a good job - focusing on things he needs to improve on and compete with those other guys,” Kirby told reporters Tuesday. 

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Stockton is coming off his first full year starting for the Bulldogs. The Rabun County product guided the Bulldogs to the program’s third SEC Championship in the last four years. 

The Bulldogs kicked off practice two weeks ago on March 17. Tuesday’s press conference is the first time Kirby has addressed the media since UGA started practice this spring. Georgia will hold its annual spring game on Saturday, April 18th at Sanford Stadium. 

"I've been really pleased with Gunner,” Kirby added of his starting quarterback. 

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The Bulldogs head into the 2026 season having won back-to-back SEC Championships for the first time as a program since 1981-82. UGA opens its 2026 season against Tennessee State in Athens on Saturday, September 5th. The Bulldogs travel to Arkansas for the program's SEC opener. During the 2026 season the SEC moved to a nine-game schedule that includes home dates with Oklahoma and Auburn as well as trips to Alabama and Ole Miss.

The Bulldogs' traditional rivalry with the Gators takes place in Atlanta for the first time ever. Georgia's in-state rivalry with Georgia Tech returns to Athens this fall.