Carson Beck went down with an injury during the SEC championship game vs. Texas, and that means Georgia high school phenom quarterback Gunner Stockton got his chance on college football's biggest stage.
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Shane Beamer gives the SEC Nation crew a scouting report on @GeorgiaFootball's Gunner Stockton 🏈 pic.twitter.com/1xkTygMmPA
— SEC Network (@SECNetwork) December 7, 2024
The backup QB surely did not disappoint, as he immediately made an impact on the opening drive of the second half, helping the Bulldogs score their first touchdown of the game.
Gunner Stockton in at QB for the injured Carson Beck. Georgia still trails Texas #GoDawgs #UGA pic.twitter.com/9umx4Ws6Ux
— CFB Saturday Slate w/ Mick N Bus (@CFB_SatSlate) December 7, 2024
Gunner Stockton leads the Dawgs right down the field for the TD 👀
pic.twitter.com/CN3yCunOli— SleeperCFB (@SleeperCFB) December 7, 2024
Stockton surely sparked Georgia's offense, however, there was one thing that was distracting to the viewers at home. That is to say, many fans were puzzled by Georgia's backup quarterback wearing a mouthpiece on the top of his helmet instead of in his mouth.
One user wrote: Is the mouthpiece sticking out the back of Stockton's helmet bugging the ever loving crap out of anyone else?"
Wanna know how I recognize who Gunner is out there, because his mouth piece has been in his helmet the whole time
— Heather (@HeatherBryson4) December 7, 2024
Then another guy said, "They finally made Gunner take the mouthpiece out of the top of his helmet after 3 drives."
Considering starter Carson Beck only had 54 passing yards in the first half, no one complained about Stockton's actual performance on the field as he helped the Georgia offense finally get things going.
Maybe Stockton will become a household name, fans are just hoping that he puts in his mouthpiece so his teeth don't get knocked out.
In view of this, at the end of the game the sophomore backup QB may have suffered a concussion as he was hit so hard his helmet flew off.
Overall, his efforts were rewarded as Stockton was able to help lead Georgia to a 22-19 victory over Texas in the SEC championship.
Just a reminder, Gunner Stockton HS Stats
- 177 Career Passings Tds (Record)
-18,024 all-purpose yds (Record)
-254 Career Tds (Record)
-13,652 Career Passing yards (2nd) pic.twitter.com/az0YnZZscs— 704 Dawg (@FSFRecruits) December 21, 2022