For some reason, Gunner Stockton still feels like an afterthought whenever the national media starts talking about Heisman Trophy candidates.
I don’t understand it.
Stockton isn’t some unproven quarterback waiting for his first opportunity. He started 14 games last season, led Georgia to another SEC championship and finished seventh in the Heisman voting. He completed nearly 70 percent of his passes for 2,894 yards and 24 touchdowns while throwing only five interceptions. He also added 462 yards and 10 touchdowns on the ground.
Those aren’t empty numbers against a soft schedule, either.
Stockton went into Knoxville and threw for more than 300 yards. He accounted for five touchdowns against Ole Miss. He completed 24 of 29 passes for four touchdowns against Texas. Then he threw three touchdown passes and earned MVP honors when Georgia beat Alabama in the SEC Championship Game.
So what exactly are we waiting to see?
Stockton may not be the most physically imposing quarterback in college football. He isn’t going to receive the same preseason attention as some of the bigger names, and Georgia’s offense may never be designed to inflate his statistics every Saturday.
But the Heisman Trophy isn’t supposed to be awarded at media days. It is supposed to be won on the football field.
Stockton has everything he needs to become a serious contender. He plays quarterback for one of the best teams in the country, he has already demonstrated that he can protect the football, and he has proven that the moment isn’t too big for him. He can beat a defense with his arm, extend plays with his legs and run through contact when Georgia needs the tough yards.
More importantly, he wins.
Georgia opens against Tennessee State and Western Kentucky before beginning conference play at Arkansas. Then come Oklahoma, Vanderbilt, a trip to Alabama and Auburn. That stretch will give Stockton all the exposure and opportunity he needs.
The first two games are about taking care of business. Stockton needs to command the offense, make good decisions and put up the kind of numbers expected against overmatched opponents. But his Heisman campaign will really begin when Georgia enters the heart of its SEC schedule.
If he takes the Bulldogs into Tuscaloosa and beats Alabama, people will start paying attention.
If Georgia is playing for another SEC championship in December, its quarterback will be impossible to ignore.
I’m not saying Stockton is going to run away with the award. The Heisman race is loaded with talented quarterbacks, and one explosive performance can change the entire conversation. But I believe Stockton will still be standing when that conversation reaches its final weeks.
He has already shown us who he is.
He is accurate. He is tough. He takes care of the football. He produces in big games. And he plays for one of the best teams in the country.
Gunner Stockton isn’t merely a Heisman sleeper.
I believe he will be in the Heisman conversation when it matters most.
