Analyst says people are underestimating this SEC QB

The praise from Rodgers did not stop there, as he commended Stockton on his performance in the Sugar Bowl.

"He is a dual-threat guy. He is a legitimate threat to run the football," Rodgers said. "And in that Sugar Bowl, I did the radio call for that Sugar Bowl. He played good enough to win that game. His offensive line couldn't block anybody. It was swiss cheese up front. His receivers let him down over and over again. He continued under pressure to put the ball in tight windows. He played good enough to win that football game."

Stockton certainly did not have any help in the Sugar Bowl loss to Notre Dame. While he still managed to complete 62.5 percent of his throws for 234 yards and a TD, he was sacked four times. 

That was just one start in a neutral site, so this season will provide a better sense of where Stockton is at. How Georgia's defense performs will have a huge say as well, given the Bulldogs were 24th in FBS in points per game allowed in 2024 (21.9), per TeamRankings. That is still solid, but for a team that was known for its tenacious defense during its championship runs, that definitely leaves room for improvement.

Georgia won the SEC championship last season, but fell short of the ultimate prize that it has grown accustomed to either winning or playing for in recent years. If he has better protection in the pocket and his receivers step up, Stockton could be someone worth keeping an eye on in a conference full of talented QBs.