The Georgia Bulldogs, as has become typical under head coach Kirby Smart, have lofty expectations for the 2025 season. That doesn’t mean there aren’t any question marks, particularly on the offensive side of the ball, where Gunner Stockton looks ready to take over at quarterback. Smart knows that Stockton is going to need some help […]
The Georgia Bulldogs, as has become typical under head coach Kirby Smart, have lofty expectations for the 2025 season. That doesn’t mean there aren’t any question marks, particularly on the offensive side of the ball, where Gunner Stockton looks ready to take over at quarterback.
Smart knows that Stockton is going to need some help from the team around him. That’s going to include a strong running game, which should make for a more efficient offense and set an inexperienced quarterback up for success.
“Define being more efficient? Not as many third and longs,” Kirby Smart said. “More than five yards per rush, which is a lofty goal. If you rush the ball more than five yards per attempt, you’ll be one of the top teams in the country. And that’s a goal for us. That’s what it looks like now.”
Gunner Stockton came to Georgia as a four-star recruit in the Class of 2022. His playing time would be limited, though, largely acting as a backup. However, he’d be thrown into the fire last season when Carson Beck was injured ahead of halftime in the SEC Championship Game. Stockton would take over for the next six quarters, helping the Bulldogs win the SEC Championship Game but also losing to Notre Dame in the College Football Playoff.
In that game against Notre Dame, Stockton completed 20 of 32 passes for 234 yards and a touchdown. Georgia only scored 10 points, though, and the running game was a major issue. The Bulldogs finished with just 62 rushing yards for the game, or just 2.14 yards per carry.
“How does it help Gunner? I think it’s obvious. You know, he doesn’t have to have the pressure of third, seven to 10 every down. It frees things up. It opens up your play action. I mean, all the obvious things,” Smart said. “But there’s a lot that goes into running the ball better, and that’s what we’re working on right now.”
As a team last season, Georgia rushed for 124.43 yards per game. That was just 102nd nationally in rushing offense, and it was just 15th out of 16 SEC teams. They’d average just 4.06 yards per carry, nearly a whole yard below what Kirby Smart wants to see this upcoming season.
The Georgia running back room is expected to be led by Nate Frazier. Last season, as a freshman, he led the team with 671 rushing yards and eight touchdowns. Now a sophomore, he is hoping to take a leap forward this upcoming season. He’ll need someone to emerge around him, though, if Georgia wants to be as efficient as possible on the ground.
Georgia is going to open the season at home against Marshall on August 30th. A couple weeks later, on September 13th, the Bulldogs will begin SEC play on the road against Tennessee before returning home to play Alabama for a difficult early stretch.
Category: General Sports
