Georgia got big news on Thursday and it includes a five-star addition to the 2022 class. Tiger (Ga.) Rabun County quarterback Gunner Stockton has committed to the Dawgs and the one-time South Carolina pledge gave Dawgs247 the details on what led to his decision.
“The day after Coach Muschamp was fired I called Coach Smart and told him I was worried about what was going on at South Carolina,” Stockton said. “We talked about everything and he assured me that I was the quarterback that he wanted for the Class of 2022. My relationship with Coach Monken and Coach Faulkner has grown. I’m excited to compete for my home state team. I just feel really good about the team, the staff, the school, everything. I already have relationships with lots of the current players, and the recruiting Class of 2022 is going to be made up of guys I already have great relationships with. Plus, I couldn’t say no to Coach Smart twice. At Georgia, you always have a chance to win the SEC and be a National Champion. That’s my dream.”
While Auburn was heavily in the mix due to the connection with offensive coordinator Mike Bobo, other schools like North Carolina, Florida, Florida State, and Texas tried to get involved with Stockton. In the end, Stockton had to tell them all no.
“Making the call to Coach Mike was no fun,” Stockton said. “I have a very close relationship with not only him but his entire family. I love that family. Coach Mike is very respected and I hate it didn’t work out for me to be coached by him. We had grown very close, but I could not stop thinking about being a Bulldog.”
Stockton, considered the nation’s No. 27 overall prospect, No. 1 dual-threat quarterback, and No. 3 overall recruit in the state of Georgia by the industry-generated 247Sports Composite, is coming off a junior season in which he threw for 3,128 yards and 45 touchdowns with just four interceptions, rushing for 1,581 yards and 26 touchdowns as well. He feels Todd Monken can help him be just as productive at the college level.
“As I watched Georgia play this year, I loved what I saw,” Stockton said. “I love throwing the ball deep, and Coach Monken is very good at setting that up for a quarterback. Coach Monken is a great teacher and I can’t wait to learn from him.”
Now that he is on board as the seventh Georgia commitment for the class of 2022, a group that now ranks No. 3 in the 247Sporta Team Class Rankings, Stockton intends on working to help Georgia bring in as many elite prospects as possible.
“In 8th grade, I was the quarterback on the FBU National Championship team,” Stockton said. “Now that team is upcoming seniors. Looking back, it was made up of some of the top recruits in the country. Then in 9th grade, I was the quarterback of the All-American game and it consisted of even more top recruits. I have become really good friends with lots of those guys. My friends Marquis and Smoke are already committed to Georgia, and I hope to help them influence a lot more. I have played 7 on7 for Hustle and Coach Tony since 8th grade, and I’m playing with them again this spring and summer. You can bet I’m hoping to bring all of those wide receivers with me to Georgia. We are loaded…De’Nylon, Kojo, Oscar, Travis, and more.”