Paul Finebaum gives his brutally honest thoughts on Georgia Bulldogs' Gunner Stockton

There’s not a whole lot of outside confidence around the Georgia Bulldogs’ quarterback situation right now, and that includes SEC Network analyst Paul Finebaum.

With Carson Beck off to chase a hefty payday in Miami, Georgia is entering a new chapter with Gunner Stockton at the helm.

In a recent segment, Finebaum didn’t hold back, offering a brutally honest assessment of the young quarterback.

"I'm not confident in Gunner Stockton," Finebaum said on the Paul Finebaum Show. "I sat with Kirby a couple of weeks ago, and he acted like he was, but I'd like to give him a lie detector test. Carson Beck had his faults, but I'd much rather have him than Gunner Stockton."

This isn't the first time Finebaum shut down Stockton. In fact, he did it while head coach Kirby Smart was tuning in last month. 

“I know the team coalesced around him after the SEC Championship Game,” Finebaum said back in May. “But I was underwhelmed by what I saw from Gunner Stockton in the Sugar Bowl loss to Notre Dame. Kirby Smart has been steadfast in his support. He really doesn’t have another option until next year when the top recruit in the country comes in. So I’m not happy with what I see [with Georgia].” 

If anyone loves doubters, it's coach Smart, who uses quotes like Finebaum's as motivation. 

“I’m excited. Gunner got the message, man,” Smart said. “He got the message. You did your job.”

Heading into the 2025 season as Georgia’s expected starting quarterback, Gunner Stockton brings limited on-field experience, just one career start. That came in the College Football Playoff Sugar Bowl against Notre Dame, where he went 20-of-32 for 234 yards with one touchdown and no interceptions in a 23-10 loss.

While that lone outing left questions about what Stockton will ultimately bring this fall, it’s the critics, like Paul Finebaum, who may end up fueling his drive to rise above expectations.