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Greg McElroy questions Gunner Stockton’s readiness for primetime matchup vs. Notre Dame
By Paul Harvey
Published:
Greg McElroy knows the spotlight will be bright for Georgia quarterback Gunner Stockton in the College Football Playoff quarterfinals at the Sugar Bowl.
With Carson Beck officially out for the rest of the season with an elbow injury, the Bulldogs will roll with Stockton to see if he can lead the team to a national title. And while Stockton did play the entire second half of the SEC Championship vs. Texas, starting in the Playoff is something else entirely.
During the most recent episode of his Always College Football show, McElroy said Stockton will be the first QB to make his first career start in a Playoff game since the format was introduced in 2014. The previous low for starts for a QB in the Playoff belongs to Ohio State’s Cardale Jones with 2 before he started in the CFP.
One thing that McElroy did appreciate is the way Kirby Smart and the rest of the program emphatically rallied around Stockton in Atlanta:
“Everyone on Georgia’s team seemingly rallied around Gunner Stockton. It was really impressive to watch, and they need to continue that momentum into their prep and into the Sugar Bowl,” explained McElroy.
It also means the offense will look noticeably different in the Sugar Bowl with Georgia utilizing designed QB runs when Stockton was inserted against Texas. However, the unknown of Georgia’s game plan with Stockton under center could benefit the Bulldogs, McElroy says.
“There is a possibility in Notre Dame’s prep that maybe they’re chasing a few ghosts… if Carson Beck were the starting QB in this game for Georgia, then Notre Dame would know exactly what the offense would look like with 13 games of tape to develop a tendency and call sheet for,” Greg McElroy said.
All things considered, Stockton was a mixed bag in the SEC Championship. He did complete 75% of his passes and showed a toughness running the ball, but he also threw a horrific late-game interception that nearly cost Georgia the game.
There are other key battles to keep an eye on, but how Stockton responds to the Notre Dame defense will be a key matchup in determining which team advances to the CFP semifinals.
Paul Harvey lives in Atlanta and covers SEC football.
