SOUTHEASTERN CONFERENCE FOOTBALL MEDIA DAYS

July 21, 2026

Gunner Stockton

Georgia Bulldogs

Press Conference

Q. Earlier this morning you were talking about how you don't really read social media. But if you did you would see a lot of criticism of Mike Bobo. Why do you have faith in Mike to be not just your play caller but your developer and so forth at Georgia?

GUNNER STOCKTON: Coach Bobo, I think he gets the best out of everybody. I know he gets the best out of me and all my teammates cause a lot of people have criticism. They don't get to see the day in and day out thing that Coach Bobo does. He barely sleeps during the week, during the game week. But just they don't see all the work he puts in, the love he has for the university, the love he has for all my teammates and me.

I truly don't think nobody understands how hard he works. And I think he's the best play caller in the country. And I'm just really excited for this season.

Q. After the way last year-ended, what's the biggest lesson this team has carried throughout the offseason, and how motivated is this team entering this year?

GUNNER STOCKTON: It's been a great offseason. I think the biggest part is just the excitement we all have for this year. Last year, definitely didn't end up the way we wanted it, but we came off the SEC win in the championship, but definitely didn't end up where we wanted.

But we had a great offseason so far. We put a lot of sweat in the bucket, and we've connected a lot, and I'm excited. We've had a great summer so far. We're about to go into fall camp and so we're going to lead into that.

Q. Obviously team goals are at the top of your list. What individual goals do you aspire to to get that team to that next level?

GUNNER STOCKTON: This offseason really focused on my body, just trying to get it where it needs to be. I've got with a nutritionist just trying to get my body -- we've done DEXAs and I've kind of got my body fat lower to where it's the best I've had it.

I've kind of got to where I'm weighing like 217. During the season I dropped down to like 207. So with football, during the season, everybody loses a little bit of weight, and you try to maintain that. Just trying to get my body where it needs to be and get in the training room and stretching, doing all the stretching I need to do. And just getting my body right for the season has been a big part.

Q. New face in the cornerback room in Gentry Williams from Norman. What have you seen from him assimilating?

GUNNER STOCKTON: He's done a good job. I think the best part he's been here and worked. And he's a great player, obviously, but even a better person. And just getting to see him and going to play against him. And 7-on-7 stuff we've done this offseason, and just the workouts, just seeing all the work he puts in has been awesome.

Q. You mentioned the SEC Championship. Why do you think that second match-up from Alabama went so differently from the first one earlier in the season? What do you think contributed to that?

GUNNER STOCKTON: I think, one, we played a little bit better. But I think we had a good week of prep. Going into a week, I feel like we have a good week of prep and doing everything the right way, we set ourselves up for success.

But really just trying not to -- one game -- if you play a game two times, it doesn't translate. So you have to show up every week and play your best and put your best foot forward.

Q. What was your experience like at the Manning Passing Academy, just being around so many of your peers. And then what have you seen from Marcel Reed?

GUNNER STOCKTON: Me and Marcel, we were roommates this past year. So he's a great guy, and it's pretty neat with the Manning camp, not only are you with the Mannings, I think when you think of football, you think of the Manning, getting to see Mr. Archie, and getting to see Peyton, Eli, Cooper, and just getting to know all the success they've done and had, getting to hear from them.

Obviously getting to see -- I think there's 43 quarterbacks there. So we all have the same job at the end of the day, so it's nice to be able to talk to other quarterbacks and getting to see what they've been through.

Q. As you know, the Georgia/Florida game will be in Atlanta this year. It will be in Tampa the year after that. Are you looking forward to that? What do you think that will do for this rivalry game to have it in sites like that?

GUNNER STOCKTON: I hadn't thought much about it. I know it's in Atlanta right now. That will be a little bit ways away. But I'm kind of focused on -- we're going through mini camp right now about to get into fall camp. That's kind of my main focus right now.

Q. You're standing in the tunnel at Sanford Stadium between the hedges, all those Dawg fans are just barking, going crazy. Do you still get goosebumps?

GUNNER STOCKTON: Absolutely. Definitely. When you're standing in the tunnel and see everybody, all you can see is kind of that upper row and all the fans up there. You see red and black, it definitely gets you chill bumps and you know it's pretty neat to be like, hey, this is what I kind of dreamed of when I was younger.

And I think that's the cool part. And some people lose focus on why you fall in love with the game of football, and just being grateful for the opportunity to be -- it's neat growing up in Georgia, being a Georgia boy, getting to play at the University of Georgia, it's definitely very special.

Q. So much talk right now is about how the SEC is slipping, having not been in national title contention for the last three years. As one of the torchbearers of the program, do you feel that it's incumbent upon Georgia to insert themselves once again at the top of college football?

GUNNER STOCKTON: I don't know about that. I know Georgia, we do our job, and we just try to do what we know, just kind of do our work.

And like I said, we've had a good offseason. And we do -- at Georgia, we just work. I think that's what Coach Smart's done a great job of, and what we believe in.

I think we've had a good summer so far. And you can't worry about that too much. Just gotta do our job, have fun while we do it.