Kirby Smart on Gunner Stockton: 'This kid's a winner'

Kirby Smart took a moment to embrace quarterback Gunner Stockton before joining ESPN’s Holly Rowe for his postgame interview. The backup, Stockton was thrust into action in the SEC Championship after starter Carson Beck suffered an arm injury right before halftime.

The redshirt sophomore would go on to lead the Bulldogs to a 22-19 overtime win against Texas, securing them a first-round bye in the College Football Playoff. A fired up Smart brought him alongside him for the interview with Rowe, who asked him his message to Stockton at halftime.

“I didn’t say one word to him,” Smart said. “Coach (Mike) Bobo did and all the coaches did and he believed. This kid’s a winner. This kid’s special. He’s a winner.”

Stockton finished 12-of-16 passing for 71 yards and also made a few plays with his legs. Georgia trailed 6-3 at halftime, but the backup QB showed poise in what was his first significant action of the season.

Stockton wasn’t perfect, throwing an interception late in the fourth quarter that allowed Texas to kick the game-tying field goal and force overtime. But he made up for it with several big plays in overtime to help secure the conference title, which is the third for Georgia under Smart.

“I think it just goes back to the love that I have for everybody in the locker room,” Stockton said. “Just all the seniors and just wanting them to go out the right way.”

Stockton completed all three of his passing attempts in overtime and also broke free for an eight-yard run to put the Bulldogs at the 4-yard line. That set up the game-winning touchdown for running back Trevor Etienne.

Etienne finished the game with two touchdowns, but he knows that the offense wouldn’t have been able to get it done if not for Stockton stepping up.

“I’m just so proud of him,” he said. “He worked so hard. Day in and day out. Never complains. Comes in and works day to day. It just goes to show how much work he put in. I’m proud of him, man.”

It’s unclear if Beck will be forced to miss any of the postseason as a result of his injury. If he does, however, this performance should help Georgia to still have confidence with Stockton as their signal caller.