The 2026 college football season is already at its midpoint, and some players are straight up *delivering* on expectations. ESPN just dropped its top-25 college football player rankings, and guess who landed two guys in the top 20? That’s right, the Georgia Bulldogs.
Gunner Stockton’s Deep Ball Is Unstoppable
Sitting at No. 13 on that prestigious list is Georgia quarterback Gunner Stockton, and man, is he earning it. So far this season, the dude has racked up 1,570 passing yards with 16 touchdowns against only 4 interceptions. He absolutely shredded the Alabama Crimson Tide defense in one of his best games, throwing for 249 yards and a touchdown against a unit that usually locks everyone down. Bill Connelly from ESPN isn’t just seeing stats; he’s seeing a whole new level to Stockton’s game. Connelly pointed out that in 2025, Stockton was efficient, completing 69.7% of his passes and leading Georgia to an SEC title. But this year? He’s airing it out more, looking downfield, and it’s paying off big time. His yards per completion have jumped from 10.8 to a whopping 13.4, and get this, his completion rate *improved* at the same time. Yeah, the Auburn game in Week 7 had some turnover issues, but Connelly says that’s not a major concern yet. What’s absolutely clear is the massive increase in his upside. This guy is on fire.
Chris Cole Is a Defensive Terminator
Then we’ve got linebacker Chris Cole, who’s absolutely dominating at No. 4 in the rankings. That’s top five, people! Cole has been a wrecking ball on defense, tallying 48 solo tackles, 2.5 sacks, 3 pass deflections, and a fumble recovery he took to the house for a touchdown. Against Oklahoma, he went ballistic: eight tackles, a sack, and two fumble recoveries, one of which was that game-changing touchdown. Georgia crushed Oklahoma 41-13 in that one, and Cole was a huge reason why. Paolo Uggetti from ESPN perfectly summed it up: on a team legendary for its defense, the 6-3, 235-pound Cole still manages to stand out every single week. He goes after the ball with a ferocity that’s unmatched. Uggetti says there’s no tackle he can’t make and no runner he can’t chase down. His combination of size and speed has made him one of the best defenders in the sport in just his third season, and ESPN’s Mel Kiper Jr. has already pegged him as a top-10 prospect for next year’s draft.
Georgia is going to need both Cole’s defensive dominance and Stockton’s evolving offense to be at their absolute peak down the stretch. Everything is on the line for UGA to make that return to the College Football Playoff, and these two stars are going to be key.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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