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SEC Quarterbacks: Arch Manning, Gunner Stockton lead into deep list
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SEC Quarterbacks: Arch Manning, Gunner Stockton lead into deep list
Texasâ Arch Manning is the first pick from this seat, and itâs very much a matter of projection, more so than hype, past accomplishments or deservedness.
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I salute you for trying to predict the future. This is a diverse and talented bunch imo. To me, the guys who have flashed the brightest in the past are Sellers, Nussmeier, and Pavia. I'm not sure any of their teams are going to make them Heisman candidates, but maybe they would be on different teams? As you accurately point out, you also have to project. I agree Manning has everything needed to become a top pick after this year. He has flashed, but not consistently. Stockton has a lot of potential, but we haven't seen much from him because of the situations he was put into the games. I'm very high on Lagway. I think he is going to be trouble for a lot of teams. Also, FL has finally started signing the top receivers in the state. They will be young this year, but there is a ton of potential. I agree that guys like Simpson and Mateer could vault up the list quickly—also tons of potential. On demonstrated talent to date, I would go with Sellers. The newer guys are a crap shoot IMO. I think Gunner is going to be good, but I also think UGA will be back in RBU form this year, so he may get a lot of help. Should be fun to watch.
Mike,
I notice that you address Gunner while rating Arch #1. However, is it just political discretion as to why you did not project Gunner somewhere to complete a projection for all sixteen starters?
The most reliable comment in the piece….
"any sort of preseason ranking would seem moot."
If Lagway hadn't gotten injured halfway through the 1st half last season against the Dawgs, my bet is the Gators would have won that game. I've got my eyes on #2-4 in Mike's list. I'm pulling for Stockton and think he will do well. I've seen more from Gunner in a true game scenario than Arch, so I have no idea if the hype with Manning is really worth it. We'll see on both those guys by the end of September.
@MontanaDawg Arch Manning started 2 games: Louisiana-Monroe and 2-10 Mississippi State. He didn't play well against ULM: 52% completions, 2 TDs and 2 INTs. Yes, it did give the folks in Austin some heartburn. He was a lot better against Bulldogs West: 26-31 for 325 yards and 2 TDs, but again a 2-10 team at home. Plus Arch Manning isn't the son of Archie Manning like Peyton and Eli. He is Archie Manning's grandson: the son of Cooper Manning, who probably would have had a decent career as a possession NFL WR - an Ed McCaffrey type - had it not been for a spinal condition that caused him to give up football. Cooper Manning is actually the oldest, so if he had the skills to play QB instead of WR, he absolutely would have like his younger brothers did. So we have no basis for believing that his son Arch has exceptional QB ability. Ironically the folks in Austin regard Arch Manning to be this great dual threat QB but they are delusional: he has nowhere near the speed, quickness or change of direction of his father. How quickly the folks in Austin have forgotten Sam Ehlinger (1900 and 33 career rushing yards and TDs) let alone Vince Young.
Also, while Arch Manning was the #1 QB and overall recruit (according to Rivals) in 2023, I have scanned the 2023 Rivals 250 and that appears to have been a down year. More guys from the 2024 Rivals 250, including WRs Jeremiah Smith, Ryan Wingo and Ryan Williams, UGA safety KJ Bolden and QB DJ Lagway, have made names for themselves already.
My money's on Garrett Nussmeier as the best actual player at QB next season. Whether he gets a chance to show it will depend on how well the 5 starters that they picked up from the portal - 2 at WR, 1 at TE, 1 at C/OG and 1 at RT - play this year. And whether their tailback can make a huge jump from his true freshman to true sophomore season. In either case my belief is that LSU is going to have 3 QBs - Nussmeier, Daniels, Burrow - starting in the NFL in 2026.
At this point we can All speculate and share our opinions. And that’s all part of the fun and mystic about preseason CFB. And even with all the data available to them the experts are sometimes right and sometimes wrong. I’m just an old fan and I’ve been right sometimes and I’ve been wrong sometimes.
I’m predicting that as long as he’s close to 100% healthy AND the same for the majority of our best WRs ( we could debate Who they are to 😀) Gunner Stockton will emerge as the top SEC QB by end of regular season. No I don’t have any hardcore data and stats to back that with. Just a feeling I’ve got about this young man.
There WILL be times he’ll make mistakes, Some might be pretty bad. But say he throws an INT, I’m banking that on the next couple of series of plays he’ll throw a TD to redeem himself. Some say they see Stetson Bennett in him, I’ll buy that to a degree, but I also see some Arron Murray in him !! And the strange thing by me saying that is Murray isn’t particularly enamored of Stockton.
I believe Gunner has the coveted “IT” factor that coaches and fans rave about. He might not be the image of the prototypical QB but he just has that “something” about him that makes me Believe. I like how he’s humble off field but very confident ( not arrogant) on field. Gunner Believes he can and that’s half the battle right there. But he’s not a show off with a huge ego. He knows what he can do and he knows what his weaknesses are.
I have Nothing personal against Arch Manning and he just might live up to all the hype. I don’t think people would be shocked or caught off guard by that, in fact he has the burden of expectation. But having the last name Manning is no guarantee of success. In fact it Might be an anchor to drag. Arch probably has the Most pressure to succeed Because he’s a Manning, EVEN if his family doesn’t put it on him, he probably puts it on himself.
Gunner has allot of pressure to. He’s got to live up to a demanding fan base and prove he’s the right man for the job. But I think Gunner has a tad less pressure because of the legacy stuff Arch has to deal with. I’m Believing at this point without any proof that we have a Much better receiving corps that includes TEs than last year and that’s gonna help Gunner thrive. We’ll see. Go Dawgs !!
Gunner will not be the starter by the end of the season. Furthermore, comparing Gunner to Bennett, as many have been doing, is an insult to all that Bennett was able to do. Other than similar heights, there is little to compare them. Definitely not in decision making. And to say that Gunner is on the same level as Manning, Lagway, Nussmeir, etc. is so ridiculous as to make one wonder at the motivation to do so. And Navy Dawg suggesting that Gunner will be the top QB in the SEC at the end of the season,HAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!
i think we found the Puglisi family account on DN
Like I said at the beginning of my post we All have our opinions. Thats what makes the preseason fun. Sorry to hear you’re so down on Gunner. But that’s certainly your right. I think the naysayers will be believers by end of regular season, but that’s just My opinion. We’ll see……
I love Navy Dawg, he's a true UGA fan thick or thin. I appreciate his glass is always half-full view but the only way Gunner gets to be a top QB in the SEC is if he throws it 35-40 times per game(not Kirby's style) and Kirby doesn't shut the offense down when we get up by 14 in the late 3rd quarter. Not going to not happen either. Kirby likes to bleed the clock when he gets up as we all know,hence very few throws will be allowed inthe 4th quarter with a 10 or more point lead.
Now there may be games when we're forced to throw it more often by necessity, but UGA isn't QB dependent for success. as much as say Ole Miss,Tennessee, LSU and others.
Thanks Bro. for those very kind words !! I feel the same about you. Always enjoy your reasonable and well thought out posts. And your take is very reasonable. Unlike the Gunner will be fired narrative. My reasoning was based on two elements. 1) SEC Defenses being improved over the league making it tough on All SEC QBs. 2) But our Dawgs O Line being improved on a Consistent basis and our WRs Catching the ball when it’s reasonably accurate. Dawgs had the Most drops in all CFB last year!! That’s hard to fathom. IF his supporting cast does Their job consistently Gunner will do his. I don’t mean to imply that he’ll be perfect or mistake free, But and If the rest of the O does Their job Gunner will thrive !! If our Defense is as good as we Hope and Believe they are then they will give opposing SEC QBs fits !! Gunner might not have the pass ydg. vs some of the other SEC QBs but what we want are the W’s !! If he gets those in the end That’s what will matter. I apologize for my lack of clarity in my first post. We want him to be the winningest QB by end of season and if everybody does their job he Will be !!
I don't think Gunner will care whenit's all said and done if he is top 2-3inyardage and completiones and TD's as long as we win! All the rest is just things to talk about.
Exactly !! That’s the kind of person he strikes me as being. Team first guy. And obviously the Team likes and supports him. I could be very wrong and it sure wouldn’t be the first time. But I think this 2025-2026 Dawgs team is gonna surprise allot of people. Just a sense I get. Hope I’m right. P.S. Look for the RBs to do allot better than predicted by some.