Kirby Smart has long prided himself on being a “player’s coach.” A label earned not just through motivational mantras but through the trust he cultivates behind closed doors. This offseason, that reputation might be tested more than ever. In a recent interview with Paul Finebaum, Smart laughed off criticism of his quarterback situation—but the chuckle barely masked the tension simmering within the Georgia Bulldogs locker room. The spotlight is burning hot in Athens, not only on presumed starter Gunner Stockton but also on the rising phenomenon that is Ryan Puglisi.

Behind the curtain, there’s a fascinating conflict playing out: the coaching staff’s faith in Stockton versus the players’ growing belief in Puglisi. Blake Ruffino laid it out clean on The R & J Show. “It’s Kirby Smart and the coaches and what they feel comfortable with versus the players and what they’ve seen,” Ruffino said. “You had five defensive players all at the same time in a viral clip come out and say, ‘**** Ryan Puglisi’s a dawg.’” That kind of organic locker room buzz doesn’t happen by accident. It’s rare. And when it shows up, it means something. Especially when, as Ruffino added, “They could have said anybody on that roster. Of all the five stars that are on that roster, they could have said anybody. Why go to Ryan Puglisi?”

The answer might be scout team warfare. Puglisi, who’s been carving up one of the best defenses in college football in practice, is winning over the locker room with every rep. “I think he’s probably on scout team against a really good defense, and he’s carving them up every week, and they’re like, ‘**** dude, this kid can play,’” Ruffino continued. And this is where things get spicy—when the tape doesn’t match the trust. Coaches love Stockton’s command of the system. Players love what they’ve seen on the field. That disconnect can be the breeding ground for a locker room schism if not handled delicately.

To Kirby Smart’s credit, he’s not oblivious to the noise. In fact, he’s leaning into it. When Finebaum said, “I was underwhelmed by what I saw from Gunner Stockton in the Sugar Bowl loss to Notre Dame,” Smart playfully fired back during a recent ESPN segment. “That’s why I always come on your show,” he said. “Because I love the fact that you give me that extra motivation.” Then with a grin, Smart added, “I’m excited. Gunner got the message… You did your job.” It was light-hearted banter, but it carried weight. The head coach doesn’t just believe in Gunner Stockton—he’s willing to use public criticism as fuel for his quarterback’s fire.

Still, the underlying issues remain. Kirby Smart has yet to publicly name Stockton as his starter for 2025, but all signs point to it. That’s the safe pick. The polished one. But it might not be the one that electrifies the locker room. Ruffino warned that while coaches may feel Stockton fits their system, “I don’t think Gunner Stockton, based off of what we’ve seen so far in two games, will be able to throw the ball enough and accurately enough to get them where they ultimately want to go.” That’s not a knock on his work ethic—it’s a reflection of what’s shown up under the lights. The “safe” quarterback might not be the winning QB.

And in Georgia’s pressure-cooker of a program, where titles are now the standard, not the goal, the margin for error is microscopic. “You can never trick a locker room,” Ruffino said. He’s right. Leadership doesn’t flow top-down in a vacuum; it’s earned every day in the trenches.

Kirby Smart ain’t handing over the SEC crown anytime soon

Georgia HC Kirby Smart made one thing crystal clear: the Bulldogs aren’t planning on giving up that SEC trophy this fall, especially not to Texas.

While doing a photoshoot for EA Sports College Football 26, Smart had some fun clapping back when Texas-based influencer Big Game Bengal suggested the Longhorns would win the SEC Championship this season. “In what sport? Baseball or basketball?” Smart joked, delivering a perfectly timed jab that had fans grinning.

But all jokes aside, Smart knows what’s coming. “The toughest year of my tenure,” he said bluntly of Georgia’s 2024 campaign. “Easily the toughest of my tenure.” With a grueling schedule, loaded rosters across the conference, and Texas and Oklahoma now officially in the SEC mix, the path to Atlanta won’t be a cakewalk.

Still, Georgia enters the season ranked No. 2 in College Football HQ’s summer SEC power rankings—just behind the No. 1 Horns. That’s right, folks. It’s shaping up to be a red-hot showdown between two powerhouse programs fighting for conference supremacy. Georgia and Texas are both pegged as favorites to reach Atlanta this year.