The legend of Stetson Bennett at Georgia began with his remarkable performance as a scout-team quarterback, flawlessly mimicking Baker Mayfield and challenging the Bulldogs’ elite defense before a pivotal Playoff game. Six years later, as Bennett’s collegiate career concluded, history seemed to repeat itself, with another scout-team quarterback earning similar praise during a championship run.
Georgia’s defensive players claimed their practices against Gunner Stockton, who simulated Ohio State’s C.J. Stroud before the 2022 Peach Bowl, were as intense as the game itself. “Gunner was slinging it like C.J. out there,” linebacker Jamon Dumas-Johnson recalled. A week later, head coach Kirby Smart lauded Stockton for volunteering to shed his non-contact jersey to prepare the defense for TCU’s Max Duggan. “Gunner Stockton said, ‘Coach, take my shirt off. I’ll take the hits,’” Smart noted.
Now, as Georgia’s starter, Stockton has proven himself a winner, delivering in clutch moments. Yet, he has also revealed flaws, sparking debate about whether he can lead the team to a national title. This narrative of a spunky but limited quarterback is a familiar one in Athens.
While it’s premature to compare Stockton to the final version of Bennett—a two-time national champion and Heisman finalist—the parallels at the same point in their careers are striking. Both were fourth-year players making their first extended starts. Through their first eight starts, their records were identical at 6-2. Stockton held a slight edge in passing yards (1,569 to 1,539) and had fewer interceptions (two to Bennett’s six), though Bennett had thrown more touchdowns (13 to seven). On the ground, Stockton proved more dynamic, rushing for 207 yards and six touchdowns compared to Bennett’s 90 yards and two scores.
Aaron Murray, a former Georgia star quarterback and now an ESPN analyst, believes Stockton possesses the tools to reach the same heights as Bennett. “I definitely think what Gunner brings to the table is more than plenty and good enough to bring us a championship,” Murray said. “He’s only started eight games in his career, right? It’s not like he’s not going to get better. Is he where he needs to be to win a championship? Maybe not. But can he get there? Yeah, I think he can.”
The comparison, however, has its nuances. Bennett, a former walk-on, had a stronger arm, which Murray suggests would have made him a first-round NFL draft pick if he were taller. The 6-foot-2 Stockton, a former four-star prospect, is well-built but has yet to display the same consistent arm strength. Both quarterbacks also saw the coaching staff explore other options; Georgia pursued transfers Fernando Mendoza and Jayden Maiava, and briefly lost Carson Beck to Miami before he returned.
Bennett’s first season as a starter was also inconsistent, ending with him ceding the job to JT Daniels for the final three games. He returned the following year more experienced and polished, a progression that supporters believe Stockton can replicate.
Stockton’s development is already evident. After committing two turnovers in limited action last season, he has only two through six games this year, curbing the “gunslinger tendencies” Smart mentioned. The trade-off, however, has been a new tentativeness, with Stockton occasionally hesitating to target open receivers. His 7.5 yards-per-attempt ranks just 12th in the SEC.
“I think I just need to cut it loose sometimes and just play ball,” Stockton admitted, while also humbly downplaying his low interception total.
Despite his caution, Stockton has delivered under pressure. He threw a crucial touchdown and a two-point conversion at Tennessee and, on the game-clinching drive at Auburn, completed passes on three third downs and one fourth down. That drive was capped by a touchdown run and a “Superman leap” into the end zone, a moment of bravado reminiscent of Bennett himself.
Stockton has already engineered two comeback victories in hostile SEC environments—a feat Bennett didn’t achieve until later in his career. For Murray, this ability to perform when it matters most is what truly counts.
“The clutch gene is a real thing,” he explained. “Gunner elevates guys around him. Those guys believe in him. So, there’s no quit from the other 10. I think that’s huge.”
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