5-star 2022 QB Gunner Stockton (6-1 200) of Tiger, GA committed to USC Thursday night. He picked the Gamecocks over Georgia. He also held offers from Oregon, Kentucky, Southern Cal, LSU, Florida, Ohio State, Alabama, Mississippi State, Penn State, Ole Miss, West Virginia, Louisville, NC State, North Carolina, Missouri and Arkansas.
The Gamecocks had a couple of strong connections to Stockton. Offensive coordinator Mike Bobo has known him for years and offered him when he was at Colorado State. And his head coach, Jaybo Shaw, is the brother of USC’s all-time winningest quarterback Connor Shaw who currently works for the football program.
“He grew up watching Connor playing with the Garnet and Black and we have been very close to their family all our lives,” Jaybo Shaw said. “The two things that are most common between the two, all they care about is winning. It doesn’t matter the stats, the individual awards. Anytime they are competing, all they want to do is win. I think that’s the best thing you can ask for in a quarterback. And the second one being, Connor played every snap like it was fourth and one. And it’s the same with Gunner. It doesn’t matter who we are playing or when we’re playing, when he puts on a helmet, it’s going to be intense and a lot of fun to coach.”
Shaw said the long standing relationships Bobo and the Shaw’s have had with Stockton paid off big for the Gamecocks in this head to head battle with Georgia.
“I do feel very strongly that he always felt comfortable with Coach Bobo and Coach Muschamp, and with Connor being there, and with what Coach Bobo is going to do offensively and what he’s done in the past,” Shaw said. “I could see it all over his face when he was ready to make his decision. He felt at home in Columbia.”
In his two seasons of high school football, Stockton has thrown for 6390 yards and 77 touchdowns with 12 interceptions. He has completed 69% of his pass attempts. He’s also rushed for 1835 yards and 36 touchdowns.
“He is a pure passer when it comes to arm talent, and his arm is nothing like I’ve seen at his age,” Jaybo Shaw said. “His arm talent is second to none in this state and in this country. Just a very, very special talent. He’s got a ton of God-given ability and he also works his tail off. His throwing motion is very quick. He has a very quick release. He’s got very fast hands. We’re a shot-gun spread offense that likes to play fast. He’s excelled at that. His overall talent as a football player is second to none.”
Stockton is rated the #1 dual threat quarterback in the country for the 2022 class in the 247Sports Composite. He’s ranked as the #24 prospect in the country in the his class and the #3 prospect in Georgia.
“He’s a very special player. He’s a once in a lifetime type player,” said his coach. “As good as a player he is, he’s a better person and teammate. He comes from an unbelievable family. I know South Carolina Gamecocks nation and Columbia will be able to rally around and know what to expect. I think anytime a quarterback can give that to a community, a city, a university, that’s all positive.”
