Quarterback
Heading into 2025, the college football community knows that Gunner Stockton will start for Georgia. Stockton will be entering his 4th season at the University of Georgia and his 3rd season under offensive coordinator Mike Bobo. Stockton brings vital postseason experience with him, as he started the second half of Georgia’s SEC Championship and the entire quarterfinal game versus Notre Dame.
Stockton is recognized as a “gamer” by his coaches and teammates. Neither the team nor the fan base questions his toughness. However, during Stockton’s postseason playing time, he averaged just 5.85 yards per pass attempt. Across his career of 83 pass attempts, Stockton’s yards per pass attempt is just 7.35. Stockton’s arm strength is not to be questioned, but questions about his desire to push the ball downfield consistently will need answers.
The college football world recognizes Stockton’s toughness and desire to lead his teammates; however, questions will be asked by fans across the country about Stockton’s ability to win big games through the air. He will have ample opportunity to answer those questions given Georgia’s front-loaded schedule, which includes Tennessee and Alabama in the third and fourth games.
Wide Receiver
Few teams invested as many resources in improving a position group as Georgia did at wide receiver. Georgia added 4-star transfers Zachariah Branch and Noah Thomas, as well as 5-star recruit Talyn Taylor and 4-star recruit CJ Wiley. While talent acquisition isn’t a question, production is a looming question after last season.
Georgia’s wide receivers dropped 36 passes last season, which was the highest total in the nation. A popular statistic from 2024 is that Carson Beck lost 665 passing yards due to dropped passes. While many new wide receivers were brought into the program, the previous season left a sour taste in the mouths of Georgia fans. They will not accept anything less than great in 2025.
Dillon Bell finished the season with 8 dropped passes and 43 receptions in 2024, and he’s expected to play a significant role in Georgia’s passing attack in 2025. If he can clean up the drops, he’s a player who can provide a receiving threat in the short and deep passing games. Zachariah Branch and Noah Thomas seem to be sure-handed receivers, but how will they mesh into Georgia’s offense after just one offseason?
Offensive Line
Georgia’s offensive line finished the 2024 season allowing 3 sacks and 10 TFLs versus Texas, as well as 4 sacks and 9 TFLs versus Notre Dame. Georgia’s running game was also brought to a screeching halt in 2024, as the team ran for 935 fewer yards than in 2023.
Monroe Freeling, Earnest Greene III, and Micah Morris return from last year’s offensive line rotation. Greene III struggled with both performance and injuries in 2024, while Freeling spent most of the season adjusting to the speed of the game. Micah Morris, a redshirt senior, has only made 5 career starts. Drew Bobo, the presumed starting center in 2025, made 2 starts last season and is looking to emerge as a real player. The fifth spot on the offensive line will most likely be won by Daniel Calhoun or Michael Uini. Calhoun and Uini combined have only a handful of appearances.
We shouldn’t expect Kirby Smart’s offensive line to perform poorly for a second straight year, but the question is how much it can improve. Most Georgia fans would argue that the offensive line cannot be worse than last season; therefore, it can only improve.
Sack Production
Georgia faces a tall, daunting task of replacing its first, second, third, fourth, fifth, sixth, and seventh leaders in sacks. Jalon Walker, Chaz Chambliss, Mykel Williams, Smael Mondon Jr, Tyrion Ingram-Dawkins, Damon Wilson, and Warren Brinson all departed from the Bulldogs this offseason.
Over the past 2 seasons, Mykel Williams and Jalon Walker combined for 21 sacks. Williams provided Georgia with a versatile pass-rusher who could line up in multiple positions and was considered Georgia’s Swiss-Army knife up front. Walker shined in the biggest moments, totaling 4 sacks and 6 TFLs in Georgia’s two matchups versus Texas. In April, Williams and Walker became the 11th and 15th picks in the 1st round of the NFL Draft. Replacing these two players will be a tough assignment.
Georgia has one of the most equipped rosters in the country to replace so much departing talent. However, even Kirby Smart has to be questioning just how much production he can expect from his group of pass rushers in 2025. With one of college football’s toughest schedules, Georgia’s success will depend on finding ways to get opposing teams’ QBs on the ground.
