Tennessee Vols HC identifies what could make facing Georgia's young QB Gunner Stockton so tough

The Tennessee Volunteers are set to host the Georgia Bulldogs at Neyland Stadium on Saturday afternoon.

The game will mark Gunner Stockton's first SEC road match as Georgia's starting quarterback. And due to his inexperience, there is a ton of doubt surrounding the redshirt junior QB, but Volunteers head coach Josh Heupel knows his team can't take him lightly, despite what the critics are saying.

“He’s played really well," Heupel told reporters on Monday. "You look at him this year, he’s taken great care of the football. He’s been accurate with it. He’s got the ability to be extremely mobile and extend and create plays on his own. You’ve got to do a great job of applying pressure, but still bottling him up inside of the pocket, not letting him get outside of it. If they choose, he certainly can be a part of the quarterback-run game as well and try to tilt the numbers, so a huge test for us defensively. Communication will be important (with) all the shifts, trades, motions before the snap of the football as well. We’ve got to be at our best.”

Through the first two games of the season, Georgia QB Gunner Stockton has completed 40 of 58 passes for 417 passing yards with two touchdowns and zero interceptions. He's also run the ball in for two scores.

Gunner Stockton Knows He Must Build His Confidence

While Stockton has done a good job of showing his dual-threat abilities, Stockton has stayed very conservative when it comes to his passing game, but he knows that must change moving forward, starting against Tennessee.

But howexactlydoes that change in the midst of the season? Stockton admitted he needs to build more confidence, which starts with more practice reps.

“I think it’s just, for me, just getting more comfortable with myself and being more confident,” Stockton said following the team's win over Austin Peay. “Like it just starts in practice. And just getting time in and being better."

Stockton and the Bulldogs kick off against Tennessee on Saturday, Sept. 13, at 3:30 p.m. ET on ABC.