This summer we’ve explored the top 10 offensive and defensive players Mizzou football is slated to face this fall. We didn’t rank them 1-10, it’s much more scientific then that (or linguistic since we are just ordering them alphabetically.) We wrap up the 2026 offseason with our final TTOP featuring a gritty Gunner from Georgia and yet another dominant Sooner defender. You can also take a look at our previous TTOP here:
Mario Craver and Leroy Harris III
Trinidad Chambliss and
Peyton Bowen
Arch Manning and Jelani McDonald
John Mateer and Ellis Robinson
Hollywood Smothers and Ty’Anthony Smith
Gunner Stockton
School: Georgia
Position: QB
Class: RS Senior
Height: 6-1
Weight: 215 lbs.
Hometown: Tiger, Ga.
What He’s Done
Gunner Stockton arrived at Georgia as one of the nation’s most accomplished high school quarterbacks after a record-setting career at Rabun County High School in Tiger, Georgia. The 6-1, 215 lbs. quarterback spent his first two seasons developing behind Carson Beck before taking over the offense in 2025.
In his first full season as Georgia’s starter, Stockton completed 70% of his passes for 2,894 yards, 24 touchdowns and five interceptions. He also added another dimension to the Bulldogs’ offense with his legs, rushing 129 times for 462 yards and 10 touchdowns.
Those numbers are impressive, but they do not fully capture Stockton’s value. He rarely put the ball in danger, protected possessions and consistently made timely plays in critical moments. Whether extending drives with his legs or escaping pressure to find an open receiver, Stockton repeatedly delivered in crunch time. His mobility became one of the defining characteristics of Georgia’s offense and forced opposing defenses to account for him long after the initial play design had broken down.
His statistical production may not have generated the same national attention as some other SEC quarterbacks, but his ability to lead winning football made him one of the conference’s most valuable players.
What He’ll Do
Stockton enters 2026 with the benefit of a full season as Georgia’s starter and the confidence that comes with leading one of the nation’s premier programs. The expectation is not that he suddenly becomes a quarterback who throws for 5,000 yards. Instead, Georgia will once again ask him to make smart decisions, protect the football and capitalize on opportunities when defenses overcommit to stopping the Bulldogs’ running game.
His scrambling ability remains one of the most difficult aspects of his game to defend. Stockton has an instinctive feel for escaping pressure without abandoning the play, allowing receivers extra time to uncover while also creating rushing opportunities when defenses turn their backs in coverage.
Surrounded by another talented roster, Stockton enters the season with legitimate championship expectations and an opportunity to cement himself among the SEC’s top quarterbacks.
Mizzou Matchup
Mizzou has not faced Stockton as Georgia’s starting quarterback, making this season’s meeting an intriguing matchup between one of the SEC’s most experienced signal callers and Corey Batoon’s defense.
Containing Stockton begins with maintaining discipline in the pass rush. His ability to extend plays is often more damaging than his initial read, as broken plays frequently become drive-extending first downs once he escapes the pocket.
That places added pressure on Mizzou’s defensive front to generate consistent pressure without allowing rushing lanes to develop. Batoon has traditionally emphasized disciplined pass rush principles, and those will be tested against a quarterback who is comfortable creating outside structure.
For the Tigers, forcing Stockton to win exclusively from the pocket represents their best bet to control the Georgia offense. Even then, his experience, toughness and knack for delivering in key moments make him one of the most difficult quarterbacks on Mizzou’s schedule.
Georgia has built its program around complementary football, and Stockton has become an ideal fit for that philosophy. He may not always dominate the box score, but he has repeatedly shown an ability to make the play his team needs when the game hangs in the balance.
Taylor Wein
School: Oklahoma
Position: DL
Class: RS Junior
Height: 6-4
Weight: 270 lbs.
Hometown: Brentwood, Tenn.
What He’s Done
Oklahoma’s defense was one of the nation’s best throughout the 2025 season, and while stars like R. Mason Thomas drew much of the preseason attention, Taylor Wein quietly developed into one of the Sooners’ most productive defensive linemen.
After seeing limited action as a freshman, Wein emerged as a breakout performer in 2025 and now enters his junior season as one of the anchors of Brent Venables’ defensive front. At 6-4, 270 lbs., he has developed into an every-down defender capable of affecting both the running and passing games.
Wein became one of the Sooners’ most productive defenders last season, finishing the season with 39 tackles, seven sacks, one forced fumble, one interception and one pass breakup. He consistently generated pressure from the edge while also proving capable of dropping into coverage when Oklahoma mixed its defensive looks.
Perhaps the biggest sign of his development was his consistency. Rather than relying on one or two standout performances, Wein impacted games throughout the season and became a key piece of a defense that helped carry Oklahoma into the College Football Playoff.
What He’ll Do
With R. Mason Thomas now taking snaps on Sundays, Wein steps into an even larger role for the Sooners in 2026. He has already shown he can consistently pressure quarterbacks, but this season he will likely become the focal point of opposing protection schemes. Offensive coordinators will know exactly where he lines up before every snap, yet slowing him is another challenge entirely.
Wein combines a powerful first step with active hands and a relentless motor. Those traits allowed him to compile seven sacks last season, and there is every reason to believe he can improve upon that production as a junior.
Oklahoma’s defense again projects to be among the nation’s best, and Wein is expected to be one of its leaders. If he continues progressing at the same pace, he has the talent to establish himself as one of the SEC’s premier defensive linemen.
Mizzou Matchup
Mizzou saw exactly what Wein is capable of during last season’s trip to Norman. He turned in one of his best performances of the season against the Tigers, finishing with four tackles and 1.5 sacks while consistently disrupting Mizzou’s offense. His ability to collapse the pocket created problems throughout the afternoon and helped Oklahoma control the line of scrimmage.
That performance should command plenty of attention from Chip Lindsey’s offense heading into this year’s rematch in Columbia. Protecting Austin Simmons begins with identifying where Wein lines up on every snap. Whether rushing from the edge or moving inside in passing situations, Wein has shown he can create pressure against quality offensive lines.
Mizzou will likely counter with a balanced offensive approach, leaning on Ahmad Hardy and the running game to avoid placing Simmons in too many obvious passing situations. If the Tigers can stay ahead of the chains, they can limit Wein’s opportunities to do what he does best.
After breaking out in 2025, Wein enters the new season as one of the cornerstones of Oklahoma’s defense and one of the biggest obstacles standing between Mizzou and a critical SEC victory.
