Bulldogs Coach Says Georgia Players Believe In Backup Quarterback Amid Carson Beck Injury

Carson Beck (15) of the Georgia Bulldogs drops back to pass during the second quarter against the Massachusetts Minutemen at Sanford Stadium in Athens, Georgia, on Nov. 23, 2024. Todd Kirkland/Getty Images

As the No. 2 Georgia gets ready for the Sugar Bowl, a looming quarterback change doesn’t bother the Bulldogs (11–2).

Starter Carson Beck injured his elbow in the SEC Championship Game on Dec. 7, and he had season-ending surgery on Monday, ESPN reported. While Bulldogs head coach Kirby Smart didn’t confirm that at Monday’s press conference, he expressed his confidence in redshirt sophomore backup Gunner Stockton.

“The players believe in Gunner. They love Gunner. The juice that he brought and the passion and energy,” Smart told reporters on Monday. “The kid played just tough as nails. I mean, and he hadn’t had to play much this year. That’s the hardest part is you don’t get a chance to play these guys.”

Stockton came into the SEC title game against then-No. 2 Texas (12–2) and went 12–16 for 71 yards passing and an interception. He also played sparingly in two blowout wins amid 25–32 passing for 206 yards overall this season.

Stockton’s minimal experience nonetheless includes leading two fourth-quarter scoring drives and an overtime scoring drive against the Longhorns. That’s also amid Texas rallying twice to tie the game and taking a 19–16 lead in overtime.

“I can’t say enough about his toughness, character, whatever you want to say. The guy’s a phenomenal leader,” Smart said. “He made some good plays, and everybody else rose up around him.”

Since the title game, Smart has been preparing for the possibility of Stockton starting in the Sugar Bowl on Jan. 1 against No. 7 Notre Dame (12–1). The Irish pose a tall task with the third-ranked defense at 13.8 points allowed per game.

“He got lots of reps prior to these practices, but he’s getting much more now,” Smart said. “I do think knowing that when you get ready for an opponent like Notre Dame, you need time.

“There’s certainly a lot of time in prep you can do to prepare for that. We prepared for some of that prior to that because we knew it would be within two opponents.”

Notre Dame beat No. 10 Indiana 27–17 in the first-ever on-campus FBS playoff game on Dec. 20. The Irish will come into the Sugar Bowl with a significant injury, too, as the team lost defensive lineman Rylie Mills to a knee injury, but Smart expects a physical game up front.

“The physicality I see when I watch Notre Dame play is pretty incredible on both lines of scrimmage. The way they play, the style of play they have,” Smart said. “So there’s a reason why that they’re at the point the season they’re at.”