Joe Rutland
Writer
If the No. 10 Texas Longhorns (7-2, 4-1 SEC) have any ideas about their trip on Saturday night to Athens, Ga., being a cakewalk, then they had better think again. Especially with Georgia quarterback Gunner Stockton leading the No. 5 Bulldogs’ offense.
Stockton has been getting a ton of eyeballs on him this season, albeit not as many as Texas quarterback Arch Manning. Still, Stockton’s numbers speak for themselves.
For the 8-1 overall (6-1 in SEC play) Bulldogs, Stockton has completed 69.4 percent of his passes for 2,040 yards and 15 touchdowns. He’s averaging 226.7 yards passing per game and has a QB efficiency rating of 153.4.
Stockton is also Georgia’s third-leading rusher on the season, totaling 363 yards and seven touchdowns on the ground. He took over, of course, for Carson Beck, who ended up this season playing for the Miami Hurricanes.
It’s been a bit of a struggle for Beck, while Stockton has proven to be one tough signal-caller for Georgia head coach Kirby Smart. As the graphic above indicates, when just focusing on SEC play, Stockton is head and shoulders better statistics-wise than Manning.
Stockton knows going into Saturday’s huge SEC game against Texas that the Longhorns have one of the conference’s best defenses. Whether it’s Michael Taaffe or Jelani McDonald, who have been patrolling the safety position for Texas, they need to bring the pressure.
Georgia wants to get off to a fast start against Texas head coach Steve Sarkisian’s defense. If they can put the Longhorns at a disadvantage early in the game, then the Bulldogs can bring the hammer down in the second half.
It’s going to be interesting to see how much Stockton can penetrate that Texas defense with his passing game. Also, the Longhorns’ defenders have to watch and see when Stockton takes off running with the ball.
Either way, Stockton will do his best to help Georgia secure an SEC victory between the hedges on Saturday night.
Cody Croy
Writer
The Buckeyes are wasting no time following the loss to Miami. The off-season has begun, and former LSU and Georgia assistant Cortez Hankton is set to step into a role with Ohio State as the wide receivers coach. Hankton will replace Brian Hartline, who left the team to become the next head coach at USF. […]
Tony Thomas
Writer
The victory over Alabama in the Rose Bowl marked the greatest victory in the 138 years of Indiana football.
Tony Thomas
Writer
Both Indiana and Alabama will wear crimson as they battle in the Grandaddy of them all.
