Following a disappointing 2024 season, longtime Georgia quarterback Carson Beck entered the transfer portal and ultimately landed at Miami.
His departure left Gunner Stockton as the Bulldogs’ presumed starter for 2025, a move that has divided opinions among Georgia fans.
While many in Athens were ready to move on from Beck after an inconsistent season, ESPN’s Paul Finebaum believes his exit could be a significant setback.
“Georgia fans were in some way fatigued with Carson [Beck] anyway,” Finebaum said. “They lost a better quarterback than the guy they have [Gunner Stockton].”
Beck, who spent four seasons at Georgia, saw his final season cut short by a heartbreaking injury.
Without him, Stockton started in the College Football Playoff, where Georgia suffered a 23-10 loss to Notre Dame.
Despite that, Bulldogs fans seem energized about moving forward with a new face under center.
And to be honest, Stockton looked pretty damn good in his limited time on the field.
Finebaum, however, isn’t convinced Stockton is an upgrade.
Adding intrigue to Beck’s move is his connection to Miami outside of football. The polarizing quarterback is currently dating Hurricanes women’s basketball player Hanna Cavinder.
Finebaum expects Beck to thrive at Miami, suggesting his struggles last season had more to do with personnel than his own abilities.
After losing star playmakers Brock Bowers and Ladd McConkey to the NFL, Beck simply wasn’t surrounded by the same level of talent.
“[Beck] had so little to work with. The talent around him was so different than the year before – with Bowers and McConkey – that he just never could adapt and he just didn’t look happy. Maybe just learning to drive a Lamborghini just really overwhelmed him,” Finebaum said.
(Let’s give Paul a little credit for that Lambo line. Not bad.)
With Beck out of the picture, Georgia faces an uncertain future at quarterback.
Stockton is the clear front-runner heading into the offseason, but his limited experience has raised questions about the Bulldogs’ ability to compete at the highest level.
Stockton stepped in for an injured Beck during the SEC Championship Game, throwing for just 71 yards in the second half.
However, he showed impressive poise and command as he helped lead the Dawgs to the title win over Texas.
While Stockton didn’t set the world on fire in the CFP showdown against Notre Dame, he certainly held his own, finishing with 234 yards, one touchdown, and one interception. (That sack-strip though!)
While Stockton’s passing ability remains a semi-question mark, he does bring a different dynamic with his legs.
Unlike Beck, Stockton was recruited as a dual-threat quarterback and has the size (6-foot-1, 215 pounds) and speed to be an effective runner.
Fair or not, some fans have questioned Beck’s leadership over the past year … That won’t be the case with Stockton who seems to check all the boxes in that department.
As of now, Stockton appears to be Georgia’s only viable option.
The Bulldogs did not pursue a quarterback from the transfer portal following Beck’s departure, leaving Ryan Puglisi as the likely backup.
With the SEC becoming even more competitive, Georgia fans are hopeful Stockton can grow into the role.
But Finebaum’s skepticism highlights what could be a difficult transition season for a program that has set national championship expectations year in and year out.
What are your thoughts on Stockton? … Can he be the top-tier quarterback that Georgia needs to win a national title?
Or is Finebaum right that the drop-off from Beck-to-Stockton is much deeper than many realize???
