If you were in Athens on Saturday, you know Sanford Stadium was buzzing. Georgia’s spring game — G-Day — had that old Dawg energy in the game. And yeah, while it’s technically just a scrimmage, don’t tell that to Gunner Stockton or Ryan Puglisi. Those two were out there battling like it was the SEC title game. Red vs. Black. Gunner vs. Puglisi. And when it was all said and done, Red walked away with a 34-27 win. But more than the score, it was about what we saw from the guys under center. One comment from a teammate had everyone locked in. 

After the game, Georgia’s junior tight end Lawson Luckie didn’t just brush off the QB questions. In his interview with the media per DawgNation on April 12, he gave us a real window into what Gunner Stockton is truly made of. “I just saw how resilient Gunner was today,” he said. “I mean there were a couple times when Kirby ripped into him and he didn’t flinch, came back and we scored the next drive. I love that. I love how tough Gunner is. He never gets discouraged, and that’s my favorite thing about him.” That’s a big-time endorsement — not just a pat on the back but a statement about who Gunner is as a competitor. And it tracks. 

Go back to December. SEC Championship. Carson Beck gets banged up, and suddenly, it’s Gunner Stockton’s show. The opponent? Steve Sarkisian’s formidable Texas, the No. 2 team in the country. And yet he walked in and led the Dawgs to a 22-19 overtime victory to bag the title. That locker room believed in him, and they still do now. Kirby Smart didn’t hold back his admiration either. “The players believe in Gunner. They love Gunner,” he said. “The juice that he brought and the passion and energy… It gave us an added boost of energy.”

So yeah, you get why Luckie’s words carry weight. Gunner’s got the locker room, he’s got the reps, and most importantly, he’s got that toughness you can’t coach. But he’s got a solid competitor in Ryan Puglisi. Even redshirt senior RB Cash Jones is at a crossroads — “They’re going to go out there and do what they do. Whoever it is, I believe in both of them.” Following the game, Smart also pitched in his honest thoughts on his QB dilemma.

Kirby Smart on Gunner Stockton vs. Ryan Puglisi 

Kirby Smart didn’t sugarcoat anything in his post-game presser. “Ryan’s done a good job. Ryan continues to get better since it’s his first spring. I mean, he ain’t got a chance to compete and do much. He has growth,” he said. “He’s still probably a little bit behind Gunner in terms of the knowledge of the offense, but he’s catching up in regards to that, right?” Ryan Puglisi, repping mostly for the Black team, went 20-for-46 through the air for 172 yards, a TD, and a pick, including 5 carries for 16 yards. He also got a few reps with Red and completed all of his three passes for 52 yards and a score. “He’s not gonna do anything but get better,” Smart added. 

As for Gunner Stockton, he was the guy for Red. 17-of-34, 309 yards, touchdowns, and a pick. Not perfect, but the kind of numbers that show command and confidence. “And they’re not worried about the perception or whatever you’re gonna write coming out of the scrimmage of your view of them,” Kirby Smart added. “They don’t care. They care about the team, and that’s what I care about.” 

That opener against Marshall on August 30 is still months away. But yeah, Georgia’s QB1 race is alive and well. The headlines might be about the competition, but inside that locker room, respect runs deep. So, whether it’s Gunner Stockton or Ryan Puglisi, Georgia’s got two guys who love the game and a team that’s fully behind them.