With just a few more sleeps until Georgia's first game week, DawgsHQ is emptying the notebook with intel on this past week of practice.
We’re just a few days away from Georgia’s first game week of the season. Once we reach that point, it’ll be full go until December. The start of College Football season is exciting for all of us, that means coaches and players, too. With all of that said, lets empty the notebook one final time this “preseason.”
*** I’ve slowly gotten to the point where the No. 1 thing I’m ready to see in 2025 is Gunner Stockton. When it comes to the fourth-year junior quarterback, I’m a skeptic. I don’t doubt his talent. He has a strong arm and is much more of a play extender and scrambler than he is a running quarterback. My concerns have nothing to do with physical or mental capability. It’s just that when I’ve seen the Georgia signal caller play, I haven’t really seen “it” just yet.
With all of that said, I haven’t heard one negative thing or concern about him during this preseason camp. I spoke to a source recently who has doubts about Stockton that reach further than my own. This person saw practice this week and was really impressed with how Stockton performed. His ability to throw accurately while on the move really stood out.
While I don’t have super high expectations for Stockton due to my own skepticism, there is something I want to point out. When I rewind back to 2021 and all of the talk about how much Stetson Bennett was beloved amongst the team, I remember folks commenting “that’s great but it doesn’t mean he can get it done.” While that might be true in some instances and could be true with Stockton, guys don’t typically get that type of support from teammates unless they’re really good. Players know who is good and who isn’t, and it’s clear Georgia players believe Stockton has “it” even if I haven’t noticed it myself.
*** I’m going to blame it on Rusty Mansell but my biggest concern offensively has shifted to the running back position. Rusty stated a couple of weeks ago that the overall athleticism and talent in the Georgia running back room had him concerned. After taking some time to think on it, I see where he is coming from.
Nate Frazier has a ton of talent, but who will be the other guy? The buzz has quieted on Bo Walker since the first couple weeks of camp, but I still think he’s part of the plan. Chauncey Bowens has come on of late, and he certainly seems to have all the tools necessary to be a good player. Dwight Phillips and Cash Jones bring a ton of speed and pass-catching ability to the table, but they aren’t volume guys when it comes to touches. Then there are the two big runners who have had quiet preseasons. Where is the game-changing talent outside of, potentially, Frazier?
I look back to the 2017 season and think about how a fairly limited true freshman, Jake Fromm, took Georgia to the National Championship game. He did so, however, with three stud tailbacks. Can the Bulldogs muster enough support for Stockton from that position?
*** Add CJ Wiley to the mix at receiver for the 2025 season. Talyn Taylor has had the better camp based on what I’ve heard, but Wiley’s second scrimmage and ensuing week of practice has him in the mix for some serious playing time as well. I’ve also heard that Noah Thomas had another great week of practice.
*** After doing some checking, I don’t believe Daniel Calhoun is dinged up after all. I suspected he might be based on the lack of mention, just in terms of playing time, from the scrimmage. I was wrong on that. Calhoun did participate, and I’ve had a couple of sources tell me that he got some run with the ones. Georgia has more than just a three-man rotation working at that spot right now. I do believe that Juan Gaston will be the starting right guard provided he has another good week of practice.
*** As Rusty pointed out recently, the defensive line got an earful from Kirby Smart this week. That group struggled some to start the week but it dominated the week before, causing the offensive line to draw the ire of the Georgia head coach. Based on what I’ve heard of late, I expect the Bulldogs to play a lot of guys up front in those first two games. How those guys play will go a long way toward determining who travels to and plays at Tennessee.
*** I’ve gotten a few questions this week on Elo Modozie. With Kris Jones getting so many No. 1 reps last week, it seems that some Georgia fans now have concerns about Modozie. I’m not in position to tell anyone that they shouldn’t be concerned, but they should know that when it comes to the Army transfer, not one Georgia source of ours shares in those concerns.
Modozie arrived at Georgia in late May and had a lot to learn. Sure, he played EDGE at Army but what he was asked to do there is different than what the Bulldogs are asking of him. Thus far he has been everything they thought he would be. Modozie is physical, athletic, and tireless. He just hasn’t gotten to the point where he’s able to play at maximum speed because he’s still learning. I’m told that he’s in line to play significant snaps. All things considered, that tells me all I need to know about how talented he is.
*** There are a couple of very tight, very heated competitions going on in the secondary right now. JaCorey Thomas and Adrian Maddox are the top two at safety and those two are going at it. Thomas had a really good week of practice, but Maddox appears to be matching him each day. I think Ellis Robinson has built himself a small lead in the race for that cornerback spot opposite Daylen Everette. Daniel Harris is in line to play, but Robinson has been so steady and locked in this preseason that he is trending toward starting in the season opener.
Category: General Sports
