Depth Chart Thursday: Gunner Stockton Commands QB Room as Georgia Retools Secondary

As Spring Ball & Recruiting 2026 presses on toward summer, head coach Kirby Smart is focused on reloading the Georgia Bulldogs roster. Following a heartbreaking 39-34 loss to Ole Miss in the College Football Playoff Quarterfinal to end the 2025 season and the departure of eight Bulldogs to the 2026 NFL Draft, today's Depth Chart Thursday evaluates the most critical position battles taking shape in Athens.

The most heavily scrutinized position on the depth chart is, as always, quarterback. Entering late April, Gunner Stockton sits firmly as QB1. Offensive coordinator Mike Bobo is overseeing a deep quarterback room where Stockton is looking to fully secure the starting job amidst competition from Ryan Puglisi, Ryan Montgomery, and Hezekiah Millender. Stockton's command of the offense was tested during the April 18 spring game, where the Red team defeated the Black team 27-17.

On the defensive side of the ball, defensive coordinator Glenn Schumann is tasked with replacing a massive amount of production in the secondary. With Daylen Everette and JaCorey Thomas departing for the NFL, and players like Daniel Harris, Joenel Aguero, and Ondre Evans exiting via the transfer portal, the defensive back depth chart has undergone a complete overhaul. To retool, Georgia heavily utilized the transfer portal, bringing in defensive talent like Khalil Barnes, Gentry Williams, Braylon Conley, and Ja'Marley Riddle. These newcomers will compete for starting roles alongside highly touted returning starters Ellis Robinson IV and KJ Bolden.

Beyond the secondary and quarterback battles, the Bulldogs boast a strong core of returning starters to anchor the depth chart. Offensively, Nate Frazier and Earnest Greene provide much-needed stability, while Elijah Griffin, Gabe Harris, and Quintavius Johnson will be foundational pieces in the defensive trenches. As Kirby Smart continues to evaluate the roster through Spring Ball & Recruiting 2026, the blend of returning veterans and immediate-impact transfers will dictate Georgia's path back to the College Football Playoff.