Gunner Stockton is earning a reputation for toughness in his first season as Georgia’s full-time starting quarterback, taking full advantage of his skills as a runner and a passer.
There are times his toughness has drawn criticism for taking hits at the end of some runs that many quarterbacks try to avoid as the ninth-ranked Bulldogs prepares to host Saturday’s SEC matchup with fifth-ranked No. 5 Ole Miss at Sanford Stadium.
While some may say Stockton should hit the ground faster to avoid those hits, no one can complain that the the 6-foot-1, 215-pound redshirt junior stays on the ground too long. So far, Stockton has always been quick to bounce back to his feet.
“I never really want to lay on the ground,” Stockton said Monday. “It’s never really a good look. So I always, I don’t know, I always just popped up.”
Stockton’s teammates have noticed.