Jalon Walker on Georgia's QB transition: 'Our team will have Gunner's back'
All signs point toward Georgia going through a transition at quarterback as it gets ready for the Allstate Sugar Bowl matchup. Carson Beck has not yet rejoined the team since injuring the ulnar collateral ligament in his right (throwing) elbow. Barring a late change in the senior signal caller’s health, this is Gunner Stockton‘s team.
Stockton took over for Beck at halftime of the 2024 SEC Championship game, helping the offense put up 19 points in the final two quarters and one overtime. On one hand, the offense has been good in the second half all season with Beck at quarterback. On the other hand, the entire offense clearly stepped up its game when Stockton entered.
Receivers caught passes, the run game opened up, and the Bulldogs found a way. Junior linebacker Jalon Walker was not surprised by the response.
“When Gunner Stockton stepped on the field, I had no doubt,” Walker told Paul Finebaum on Thursday. “I came in with Gunner together as freshmen and I always had confidence in him. He’s played big-time football because he sees it every day. He does a great job preparing himself mentally and physically of what he has to do in the game and I feel like he’ll be fine. I feel like our team will have Gunner’s back no matter what happens and I feel like we’ll be put in the best position by him and the offense.”
Beck has a string of 27 straight starts at Georgia and entered the season with a ton of Heisman Trophy and first-round NFL Draft pick buzz. After starting the season off fairly strong, Beck threw 12 interceptions in a six-game stretch and fell out of favor in both of those discussions. He rebounded to help UGA beat Texas, UMass, and Georgia Tech to end the season.
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The SEC Championship game was the first meaningful action of Stockton’s Georgia career. He helped the Bulldogs go 75 yards on 10 plays with the first possession of the second half, converting a pair of third downs in the process — one with his feet and the other with his arm.
Stockton also helped Georgia put together a couple of field goal drives and the game-winning march in overtime. There was also the near catastrophic interception thrown late in the fourth quarter that was close to being a pick-six. It allowed Texas to tie the game at 16 and sent it into overtime.
Georgia has practiced a handful of times since coming back together as a team late last week. It’s Stockton’s first ever week of preparing as the starting quarterback.
