No. 2 Georgia is pinning its nationwide championship hopes on backup quarterback Gunner Stockton.
Kirby Smart stated Monday that Georgia is getting ready Stockton to begin within the Sugar Bowl on Jan. 1 within the College Football Playoff quarterfinals towards No. 3 Notre Dame. Stockton took over when starter Carson Beck suffered a proper elbow harm within the first half of the Bulldogs’ 22-19 additional time victory over Texas within the SEC title recreation Dec. 7 in Atlanta.
Georgia’s first-round bye gave Stockton, a sophomore, extra time to organize for his new beginning position. Smart stated first-team expertise is the largest benefit in “a number of practices” for the reason that SEC championship.
“He had a number of reps earlier than these practices, however now he is getting much more,” Smart stated. “I feel … if you put together for an opponent like Notre Dame, you want time, and we’ve got that.”
The Fighting Irish superior by beating Indiana, 27-17, within the first spherical Friday night time. Smart stated Stockton and Georgia can deal with Notre Dame. “But I feel the largest factor is simply the competitors in follow,” Smart stated. “You know, the conditions we put him in. All these issues permit him to enhance as a quarterback.”
Georgia introduced on Dec. 9 that Beck and his household have been evaluating remedy choices for his elbow. Those choices might embody surgical procedure, though Georgia has not launched particulars concerning the harm.
Two weeks later, neither Beck nor Georgia have launched any selections.
“The solely factor I can replace is that they are nonetheless going by these deliberations by way of decision-making time, all of the varieties of choices that they need to make as a household,” Smart stated.
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Beck injured his throwing arm within the first half of the SEC title recreation and returned to the sector in dramatic vogue for the handoff on the game-winning play in additional time. Stockton needed to depart the sector for one play after knocking off his helmet.
Although he was in a position to take the snap and cross to Trevor Etienne on the operating again’s game-clinching 4-yard landing run, Beck was unable to lift his proper arm.
Stockton accomplished 12 of 16 passes for 71 yards with one interception towards Texas.
Smart downplayed the suggestion that Stockton might give the Bulldogs extra choices at operating again quarterback.
“I feel we’re who we’re in that sense,” Smart stated. “I imply, we performed a full season, offensively. You know, Gunner is an efficient athlete. I feel Carson is an efficient athlete. So it is a kind of offers that I do not understand how a lot it modifications issues.”
Beck, a fifth-year senior, is 24-3 as a starter. He began all 26 video games for the Bulldogs in 2023 and 2024. He handed for 3,941 yards with 24 touchdowns and simply six interceptions in 2023, however has struggled extra with turnovers this season. Beck has handed for 28 touchdowns with 12 interceptions this season and accomplished 7 of 13 passes for 56 yards earlier than his harm within the SEC Championship.
Associated Press reporting.
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