Georgia is transferring ahead with Gunner Stockton as its beginning quarterback within the College Football Playoffs after the college introduced Monday afternoon that Carson Beck suffered an elbow harm and there’s no timetable for his return.
Beck suffered what’s believed to be a UCL harm to his proper elbow through the ultimate play of the primary half within the Bulldogs’ SEC Championship victory over Texas.
“Georgia quarterback Carson Beck suffered an elbow harm throughout Saturday’s Southeastern Conference Championship recreation. He and his household are exploring remedy choices and there’s no present timetable for his return,” a Georgia official stated in an e-mail to reporters.
The e-mail additionally acknowledged that punter Brett Thorson sustained a knee harm to his non-kicking leg in Saturday’s contest and would require season-ending surgical procedure.
Carson and Brett are each fierce opponents and intensely laborious staff,” Smart stated in an announcement. “I’m assured they are going to assault their rehab with the identical willpower they exhibit of their every day habits. We might be right here to assist them each step of the best way.”
Sunday, Smart stated the workforce has whole confidence in Stockton.
“There’s not a recreation we do not go into that we do not have a plan for Gunner if he have been to should play. I imply, if you’re a backup quarterback, he is acquired to be able to play,” Smart stated. “But he capabilities and operates rather well inside our present offense. We do not assume we’ve to alter a lot when it comes to that. He does give us the aptitude of doing a little various things along with his athleticism. So, I do not know that there is numerous change. It’s most likely extra selecting the quantity appropriately when it comes to not having all the pieces that we’ve with Carson, however having issues that match Gunner.”
Having over three weeks to arrange for the Sugar Bowl on New Year’s Night towards both Notre Dame or Indiana will give the Bulldogs and offensive coordinator Mike Bobo extra time to arrange with a brand new quarterback.
“This state of affairs does provide you with time if that is what has to occur,” Smart stated. “I imply, there may be time there. But, I imply, expertise is so priceless, and you’ll’t actually get expertise on this period of time. I want he’d gotten extra recreation expertise as much as this time limit. There’s not so much we are able to do about that proper now, so we’re simply ready to seek out out extra info.”
Stockton proved his potential and toughness in Saturday’s SEC Championship extra time win over Texas.
Taking over for Beck to begin the third quarter, Stockton appeared to encourage your complete Georgia workforce. The power was palpable as he led the offense’s opening drive to a go-ahead rating.
“It’s resiliency. As quickly as one thing unhealthy occurs, we simply rally round one another,” extensive receiver Arian Smith stated. “We’re there for one another. We advised them, ‘It’s okay, man, we acquired your again.’ We pat him on the again. We inform him it’s OK, we acquired you.”
Stockton had his teammates’ backs as nicely.
In extra time, Stockton misplaced his helmet on a vicious hit after an 8-yard acquire however nonetheless managed to carry onto the ball. Had he fumbled, the sport might have ended with a Georgia loss. On the following play, Beck got here in and handed the ball to Trevor Etienne who rolled in for the game-winning rating.
As laborious because the hit on Stockton was, Smart stated the quarterback didn’t undergo a concussion. If the sport had continued, Stockotn would have been capable of proceed enjoying.
“Yeah, he was nice to return again in. Gunner, I do not know precisely if he checked with the coach, however when he got here off the sector, we have been all speaking to him about how he may return out so long as he was cleared,” Smart stated. “He may return to play. And he was acutely aware, nice, transferring round, speaking. Most of the time, they go into concussion protocol if it’s a extra extreme concentrating on or there may be an indicator for Ron (Courson) and his workers.”
Linebacker CJ Allen stated Stockton’s toughness has by no means been a query.
“I like that dude, man. He works so laborious, would not complain about something,” Allen stated. “He at all times acquired a smile on his face. That’s my man, man. That’s my man.”
