Everything Gunner Stockton Said After UGA Football's 63-3 Win Over Tennessee State

 I just changed. I got it. Yep. All right, everyone good? Yep. Yep. All right, very impressive offensive performance just from the team overall, especially in the first quarter, 28 points. Just how are you feeling in this game, and what'd you see from your offense? Yeah, I felt like, um, you know, we came out and executed really well.

Um, you know, there's still stuff to clean up, but I thought we, um, you know, communicated well, and, um, and just played, played pretty hard. Um, but there's definitely stuff we need to clean up. Three touchdowns for number three, Nate Frazier. What was it like to see him have that type of performance today? Oh, it was awesome.

Um, you know Nate, he's, he's, he's gonna run the ball hard no matter what. And, um, you know, he's a great running back, and he's a great teammate. So, um, you know, just to see the joy that everybody has and just to see him, um, have success is awesome. Was there any game plan for you about, like, how much you would play?

Were you a little bit surprised that they took you out before the first half ended? Uh, not really. Um, I mean, it's just go out and play ball. Um, just see whatever happens, happens. So, um, you know, I got to be ready to go play whenever, so. Can you kind of walk through that first touchdown to Elias? It was his first career touchdown there at Georgia.

How excited were you, for you to see him get that touchdown? Oh my gosh, it was awesome. Um, Elias, he's been putting in a lot of work, and, um, you know, like I said, a bunch of guys got to play today, and it's pretty neat just to see the love that everybody has and, um, just the happiness that everybody has for their teammates.

What was it like out there? They said it was the hottest game ever played at UGA. Like, what was it like as a player being in that condition? It was, uh, it was pretty warm. I know, uh, our fans were great coming out and watching us. So, um, but it was, it was a good at- great atmosphere and, um, you know, a great, great home game.

What excites you the most about this year's offense? I think, um, you know, the, the fact of getting ready. Like, we, we put in work spring, summer, everything. But, um, you know, just going into the daily week of getting ready for a team and just all the work we've put in. And, um, you know, we have guys that are explosive, like, you know, you name it.

Jaden Reed, like, the, the run he had today, um, was unbelievable. Um, receivers, running backs, everybody. So, um, you know, if we just do our job and do what we're told, um, we'll be all right. What was the big thing that you maybe worked on this off-season that you maybe saw translate super well here in this first game?

You know, this off-season, working on pocket movement, um, you know, taking what I need and knowing when to run or, you know, extend plays and doing stuff like that. So, um, I feel like we've gotten a little bit better at that, and just keeping on. What can you learn about your team when you're playing in a game like this when they're, you're ahead so much, and then also when then you're sitting on the sidelines watching it?

What can you learn about your offense from this performance? I think that we have a bunch of guys that can play winning football. Um, and we have a lot of depth and, um, you know, that's, that's a plus for a team. Um, so when you have that, it's a great thing. Talon Taylor- Appreciate that ... touched down today- Yeah

touches on his first four drives of the game. How nice was it to see him go out there and make plays and get, establish some confidence for him? You said Talon? Talon, yeah. Yeah. Um, Talon's a great guy. Um, great teammate and obviously a great player. Um, you know, when he gets the ball in his hands, he's, he's gonna do something, something special.

So, um, just to see all the work he's put in as well, and, uh, just to see him have success is amazing. Georgia Tech transfer, Central Georgia native Isaiah Canyon out there for the first time in the red and black today. What did you see from him and, and his experience out there with Georgia? Yeah, it was awesome.

Um, you know, when Isaiah has it, he's, he's explosive. Um, you know, he's, he's really fast and he can go get the ball. So, um, I, I, I told him, I was like, "I hope, hope this first home game, like, I hope it met up to your expectations." So, um, but he, uh, he's a great player, great teammate. Gun, what was your biggest takeaway from the overall offensive performance today?

Yeah, I think, um, you know, we executed well. Um, definitely there's stuff we need to clean up. Um, but I think everybody, you know, did their job and, um, came out here and started fast. So, um, you know, at the end of the day I th- I felt like we played a bunch of guys, and that's a, that's a great thing. What was it like seeing Nate get off to such a fast start?

I mean, two touchdowns the first two times he carried the ball today. I know. I know in speaking to him, that's what he talked about, it was important for him to get off to a good start this year, and he did that this afternoon. Yeah, it was a great, great first impression. Um, you know, he, he di- he di- he did a great job, and, um, you know, all the work he's done has, has shown off.

So, uh, it was a great, great start. Since he was inspired, could you tell he was... You know, this game meant a lot to him after what happened to him, losing his dad in the off-season and all that. Did you, did you get that sense at all? I mean, definitely. Yeah. Um, it, I mean, he, all the work he's put in and the way he attacks practice, workouts, everything, um, you know, it definitely shows.

John, you've also said that it's been a pretty tight competition for backup quarterback this year. You got to see three of your backups play today. How, w- how important are these kind of games for their development, and what did you see from all, each of them today? Oh, it was awesome. Um, I think we have one of the best quarterback rooms in the country.

Um, you know, not only players, but, um, just the people, who they are, um, it makes the room fun to go into every day. And, um, you know, they all came out and, you know, played really good. And, um, you know, it was fun to... 'Cause I was in, I was in the s- their shoes, uh, not too long ago, so I know how it feels to stay there, get ready, um, thinking you're gonna play.

So, um, they all did great and, um, you know, they all played winning football. What kind of coach- What makes Caden Freithro not seem like a freshman? What does he do that, that... Like, freshman don't do that I'd probably say his size. He's pretty big. Um, but uh, you know, the way, the way he made the guy miss today is, is awesome.

Um, with just making a guy miss and go and score was amazing. You were talking about the tightness of this team. Could- how did you feel that today? There was a lot of celebration when the third- and fourth-string guys, I, I don't know how to describe them, scored tonight. I think, um, you know, it boils down, Coach Smart, he says mudita, um, it means find joy in others' success.

And um, you know, for me it was seeing Duncan Carpenter on defense going out and making a play and, um, you know, I get to see Duncan every week on scout team and the work he puts in. He takes more reps than anybody and, um, you know, that's pretty neat for him to have the opportunity to go out there and play in Sanford Stadium.

So, um, you know, it's, it's a great opportunity. Gunner Eilerts makes a couple of good blocks there and then gets that score early in the first half. How would you assess kind of how the tight ends were used today, and is that kind of the ideal sort of formula for the tight ends to be used in that way this year?

Yeah, I'd say whatever way, you know, win, win the ballgame. Yeah. So, I, uh, you know, they did a great job today and, um, you know, they're physical and can go, uh, run great routes and they can do everything. So, um, I thought they did a great job today. 600-plus yards of offense in this opener. I know the opener can kind of be sluggish sometimes.

Was there a mindset shift, something you guys talked about in the lead-up to this game to make sure those kind of lapses don't happen in a season opener like this? Yeah, I think, um- ... you know, anytime you have the opportunity to come out here and play, like, you know, your mindset should, should always be you wanna start fast and do everything.

So, uh- But I thought, you know, whenever you get a chance, you aren't, you aren't half anything. So, um, you know, we did a good job executing today, and definitely some stuff to clean up, but we did a good job. Nate Frazier, four carries, three touchdowns. How important is Nate Frazier gonna be to this offense this year?

Oh, awesome. Um, he had a great day and, um, ran the ball hard, so, uh, I'm really excited to see where, where we can go. Connor, what about Jayden Daniel? All we've talked about or we've heard is he's had a big camp, and then today he gets technically two touchdowns. They took one back. Well, I guess not technically, but just talk about his progression and what you've seen from him, and just how excited you were to see him get that touchdown.

He is a freak. Um, that touch- the one that got called back was insane. Um, but no, just seeing all the work he's put in as well, um, you know, it's, it's, it's really neat to see it all pay off. Um, but definitely it was a great start. Um, it was a good f- first impression, so... One, one follow-up on that. He's obviously a guy that's been here like you.

He's waited his turn. Just kind of talk about that and what you've seen or how, how you value that here at Georgia. Yeah. Uh, in today's day and age, it's tough to stay and, um, stick it out and, you know, he's, he's done it and, you know, worked, put the, put the time in, and, uh, it definitely shows the, all his work he's put in.

Have you basically seen what you saw today in practice the whole time? I mean, did you see... Were you surprised by anything? Um, I mean, we really... They had a new, uh, defense coordinator, um, so you really sometimes you never really know. But, um- I'm talking about your teammates. Was there something- Um, you know, not, not too much.

I mean, what you see- That's about what practices were like ... like, I mean, everybody did a good job and played hard, so, uh, it was good to see everybody do good, do good. Connor, you had a bunch of, uh, your top pass catchers last year depart. What do you make of, uh, Taylor and Elias, some of the young guys that kind of stepped up today and, and you're gonna have to count on all year?

Yeah, they did a good job. It was a good first impression. Awesome. Thanks again. Thank you.