“This year everyone’s hungry, everyone’s got something to prove,” junior TE Lawson Luckie said. And man, you can feel that pressure in Athens like humidity before a storm. After the Sugar Bowl heartbreak as the natty slipped through their fingers, Kirby Smart‘s Bulldogs are on a mission. There’s no beating around the bush anymore—the QB1 is clear, and all eyes are on Gunner Stockton. No more sugarcoating it. This is a make-or-break season for Georgia in 2025, and yeah, for Gunner Stockton. The redshirt junior QB came to Athens in 2022 out of Rabun County High. For three long years, he waited behind the wings, but now it’s showtime. And the pressure? Through the roof. 

The expectation is high on Georgia making the national championship this season despite losing Carson Beck to Miami. As Dawgs insider Matt DeBary laid it out on UGA Football on Dawg Post on April 20, “There’s a lot of pressure on Gunner Stockton. Of course, he’s the obvious make or break guy. Gunner Stockton has a massive season, Georgia could have a special season. If Gunner Stockton doesn’t and things don’t go super well offensively, then yeah, they’re going to really struggle. So that’s obvious.” Now the question is if Gunner Stockton is ready for the load placed on his shoulders. 

Georgia’s G-Day gave us a glimpse of the possibilities that await the Dawgs in 2025. Gunner Stockton impressed everyone, leading the Red team to a 34-17 win, throwing for 309 yards, two TDs, and an interception. That’s a solid output in a scrimmage. And you see, this 22-year-old was thrown into the fire when he least expected it. He stepped in for Carson Beck in the SEC Championship game against Texas. Then he made his first career start in a highly anticipated Sugar Bowl game against Notre Dame. Yeah, the Dawgs lost that CFP quarterfinal game, but Gunner Stockton gave his best. He completed 20-of-32 for 234 yards and a TD. A steady one. But steady isn’t going to cut it in Athens with his new role anymore. 

“Yeah, it’s a different role,” Gunner Stockton acknowledged. “I play more of a leadership aspect. You’re leading every day, just that position, and being able to take command. Just lead the right way and be me.” And that’s where Kirby Smart comes in with high faith in their guy who’s going to write their fate in 2025.

“He understands what we’re trying to do,” Smart said. “He’s been through it… He knows the inside and out and then I get frustrated and impatient when other guys don’t know it like him.” Sounding hopeful, but there’s a catch. 

Gunner Stockton needs elite weapons in the trenches

UGA lost 17 players to the 2025 NFL draft, including their starting QB1 and top edge rusher, Damon Wilson. So yeah, the trenches got gutted. “If anyone knows how important the trenches are, it’s Kirby Smart,” Georgia insider Brandon Adams said. Michigan didn’t need J.J. McCarthy to be Superman in the 2024 national title game. Will Howard wasn’t the sole reason Ohio State took home the 2025 national championship trophy. But these teams dominated the line of scrimmage. 

“What you need is to be elite in the trenches. And yes, probably need to have a couple of stable running backs,” the insider added. “You need to have playmakers on the outside, and you need to have guys at linebacker. And in the secondary, who can make plays, but at the end of the day, this is still a game in the trenches.” For now, it’s Gunner Stockton who clearly got the locker room. And that trust will be the secret sauce. 

Gunner Stockton’s got the keys to the Ferrari. Now it’s time to see if he’ll keep it in the fast lane or if he’s going to stall out under the weight of a natty-or-bust season.