ATHENS — A College Football Playoff quarterfinal against Notre Dame is a high-profile stage for a quarterback’s first collegiate start.
Gunner Stockton, who is set to take over for Carson Beck after being in the backup role for three years, is about to be tested on that stage.
It’ll be an unfamiliar situation for Stockton, who last started a game as Rabun County’s quarterback against Thomasville High School in November 2021. However, there is a recent Georgia quarterback who understands what it is like to make your first career start for the Bulldogs against the Fighting Irish.
Jake Fromm did so in 2017, as a freshman, and helped lead the Bulldogs to a 20-19 win over the Fighting Irish.
“For that Notre Dame game, man, the overwhelming support that I got from my teammates really just helped me throughout that entire week,” Fromm said in an appearance on DawgNation Daily. “Got to know the plan, got to take reps and went in with all the confidence in the world. So man, I expect that Gunner’s probably a lot in that situation. He’s getting a lot of support from his teammates because they know who he is, they’re the kind of guy he is and know the competitor and the worker he is.”
Fromm completed 16 of his 29 pass attempts for 141 yards and a touchdown and an interception. The touchdown pass was aided by an impressive effort from wide receiver Terry Godwin. Then a freshman, Fromm relied on the capable rushing attack behind him, along with a stout defense.
Fromm, who also led the Bulldogs to another win over Notre Dame in 2019, expects Georgia to try to follow a similar formula when the team travels to New Orleans.
“Is Gunner going to go out there and throw for 300 yards and three touchdowns? I have no idea and probably not,” Fromm said. “The reason I say that is because Kirby is going to do all that he can to protect Gunner and to make sure he puts him in a position to succeed not only for Gunner but the team as well. Get him in a position to use his legs when they want him to use his legs, find easy completions.
“This is going to take all three phases — offense, defense and special teams — to win this national championship. Gunner is going to play a huge factor in that. But they’re not just going to give Gunner the entire team right out of the gate and say, ‘Hey, we’re going to put everything on your shoulders.’”
Stockton is going to get a little more time to prepare than Fromm did. The former Georgia quarterback had only a week to prepare as the starter after getting thrust into first-team duties against Appalachian State as a freshman.
Stockton is in his third season in the program and has had multiple weeks to work with the first-team offense since Beck’s injury. Fromm expects the Georgia offense to look different so it can be better catered to Stockton’s skill set. He is a far more willing and capable runner than Beck was, as evidenced by his big first-down rush in the overtime win over Texas in the SEC Championship game.
Fromm said Georgia likely will incorporate more run-pass options into the offense, while leaning on Trevor Etienne as the Bulldogs did against Texas. Etienne ran for a season-best 94 yards while scoring two touchdowns, with 90 of those yards coming once Stockton took over.
“I can’t wait to see what (Georgia offensive coordinator Mike) Bobo and the offense cooks up here,” Fromm said. “But man, it’s going to be fun. It’s going to be exciting. And this is going to be a great debut for Gunner Stockton.”
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