Joel Klatt Exposes Clear Gunner Stockton Flaw as He Issues Strong Take On Georgia’s Tennessee Test

Talking about confidence when it comes to Georgia quarterback Gunner Stockton? Kirby Smart is almost sold by his starter. He didn’t turn the ball over and completed 76% of his passes for 227 yards in a 28-6 win over Austin Peay. “I’m pleased with where he’s at,” Smart said. “I want him to have confidence in the pocket and make some throws.” That’s the only demand he has from Stockton. But looks like someone is not at all sold by the quarterback. That’s none other than Joel Klatt.  

Many debate that Stockton’s rage for the 2025 season has been against not-so-dominant programs like Marshall and Austin Peay. On top of that, he carries the Carson Beck burden, who, after breaking up with Smart’s Georgia, is flying high in Miami. More pressure for the quarterback, as Heupel stays on high alert and is ready to bring something special to the table. While Stockton might want to turn the tables for the Vols, Klatt came with a grounding alert before the Tennessee face-off. 

On September 7, the analyst was invited to The Next Round podcast. That’s when he came up with his take on Stockton, which might upset the Georgia fans. “Georgia’s starting QB had to throw 34 passes against Austin Peay! If Julian Sayin or Dante Moore would’ve thrown 34 passes against Austin Peay, they would’ve scored 873,000 points,” said Klatt. Well, Stockton throwing 34 passes to beat a cupcake opponent like Austin Peay is a big turn-off. Normally, a powerhouse like Georgia should dominate such a team on the ground and with efficiency, not need that many passing attempts.

Joel Klatt on Georgia’s passing game:

“Georgia’s starting QB had to throw 34 passes against Austin Peay! If Julian Sayin or Dante Moore would’ve thrown 34 passes against Austin Peay, they would’ve scored 873,000 points.”

Are the Dawgs in trouble Saturday at Tennessee?… pic.twitter.com/PeQnCbfdZy

— The Next Round (@NextRoundLive) September 8, 2025

To Klatt, had there been highly touted quarterbacks like Julian Sayin or Dante Moore, they would’ve lit up the scoreboard with ease against such a soft opponent. Considering the Stockton factor, it’s no big task for Klatt to pick up his favorite for the upcoming Tennessee vs. Georgia face off. 

“I kind of like Tennessee. Like, at home, they’ve looked really solid. They’re clearly internally motivated. [Joey] looks like a quality player. Everyone thinks that I have, like, this animosity towards Tennessee because of my take about Nico Iamaleava…And, like, does that offense develop you for the NFL as a quarterback? No, probably not. Is it a good college offense? Hell yeah, it is,” shared the analyst. 

After all, Hendon Hooker thrived in it. Then there is Art Briles’ offense at Baylor that has put huge numbers in a similar scheme. Mind you, it’s the same Klatt who claimed Heupel’s offense doesn’t develop quarterbacks. But he cleared the air, claiming that it fits best in the college landscape. While the analyst raised a warning for Georgia to “better watch out,” Heupel is ready with their Stockton plan.   

Josh Heupel’s defense is tasked with containing more than just receivers

Tennessee is looking to snap an eight-game skid against Smart and Georgia. The Bulldogs have won eight straight meetings in their series with Tennessee, with all eight victories by at least 14 points. So, Heupel is obviously not willing to leave things on autopilot mode. And with this, he has done some homework on Stockton. Now, what did he find?

No, no harsh words. Heupel walks on the path of praising the rival quarterback. During the press conference on Monday, September 8, the Tennessee head coach shared,  “He’s played really well. Look at him this year, he’s taken great care of the football. He’s been accurate with it.” This makes Heupel and co. have more watchful eyes on Stockton. 

As he continued, “He’s got the ability to be extremely mobile and extend and create plays on his own. You’ve got to do a great job of applying pressure, but still bottling him up inside of the pocket, not letting him get outside of it. And if they choose he certainly can be a part of the quarterback run game as well, and try to tilt the numbers. So huge test for us defensively.” Talking about dual-threat skills? Stockton hits the right spots. So, Heupel now focuses on bolstering his defense, which will need to do more than just covering receivers. They now have to stunt Stockton’s scrambling ability. While Heuepel’s bag is now spilling with pressure, did he invite some more?

Here came a call for the Tennessee fans before the Georgia game. Josh Heupel is not only counting on his 11 home boys on the gridiron, but wants the support of the 100,000 from the Neyland Stadium stands. As Vols insider Wes Rucker reported, “Tennessee coach Josh Heupel on next week’s showdown against Georgia: We want to be the best team on the field that day. To do that, we’ll need to be at our best, and we’ll need our fans to be at their best, too.” Will Tennessee reward Klatt’s confidence and their fans’ hopes, or will Stockton once again shine brightest on the big stage?

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