**HISTORIC DEBUTS UNDER CENTER: Unveiling the Most Passing Yards by a Georgia Quarterback in a First Career Start Among 60 Bulldog Signal-Callers Since 1945**

Over the decades, the University of Georgia has fielded a long and storied line of quarterbacks, with more than 60 players making at least one start under center since 1945. In a football program steeped in tradition and national prominence, few moments are more pressure-packed—or more memorable—than a quarterback’s first career start. The stakes are high, the expectations immense, and the eyes of the Bulldog faithful intensely focused. For those who have donned the red and black for the first time as starting quarterbacks, the debut outing is often a defining moment—an early glimpse into whether a player can handle the relentless intensity of SEC football and the historic weight of leading a powerhouse like Georgia. Among these first starts, a few have stood out not just because of the results on the scoreboard, but due to the sheer volume of passing yards racked up in the debut, signaling a potentially bright future and, in some cases, the beginning of legendary careers.

The very notion of examining the most passing yards by a Georgia quarterback in their first start evokes curiosity not just for statistical comparison, but for the emotional weight and historical implications of such performances. Georgia isn’t a program traditionally known for airing it out; rather, it has been built over the years on stingy defenses, punishing running games, and methodical, efficient quarterback play. However, that hasn’t stopped certain QBs from lighting up the stat sheet the moment they stepped into the starting role. From national champions and Heisman contenders to short-lived flashes of brilliance, the names atop this list paint a broad picture of what it takes to command the huddle for the Bulldogs and what kind of talent occasionally bursts onto the scene in Athens.

Perhaps most impressively, the top performance in terms of passing yards in a first career start at Georgia belongs to none other than Stetson Bennett IV, the former walk-on turned national champion, whose 2020 start against Arkansas shocked both fans and analysts. Coming into the game as a backup and thrust into action after early struggles from D’Wan Mathis, Bennett ultimately took the reins and delivered a performance that would serve as the prologue to one of the most improbable rise-to-glory stories in modern college football. That game saw Bennett throw for over 200 yards and engineer a comeback win, foreshadowing the poise and resilience he would display repeatedly during Georgia’s back-to-back national title runs in 2021 and 2022.

However, Bennett wasn’t the only Bulldog to leave a strong impression in his first start. Going further back, Eric Zeier, the record-breaking quarterback of the early 1990s, showcased his high-level arm talent right out of the gate. Zeier entered Georgia as a highly touted recruit, and in his debut as a starter in 1991, he displayed maturity beyond his years. Throwing for over 200 yards as well, Zeier began a career that would eventually see him become Georgia’s all-time leading passer at the time, and a symbol of a new era in UGA’s offensive approach—one that leaned more on the pass than its traditionally ground-heavy predecessors.

More recently, the likes of Aaron Murray and Jake Fromm made strong opening statements in their first starts. Murray, in 2010, came into the season as a redshirt freshman under head coach Mark Richt, stepping into a leadership void left by Joe Cox. In his debut, he tossed for over 250 yards and multiple touchdowns, immediately showcasing the football IQ and consistency that would define his career. Murray would go on to set multiple SEC records for passing yards and touchdowns, but it was in that very first start that fans caught their first true glimpse of his command and talent. Fromm, meanwhile, got his chance in 2017 after Jacob Eason suffered an injury in the season opener. Fromm took the reins and never looked back, engineering a win over Notre Dame in his second appearance and helping lead Georgia all the way to the national championship game that season.

There are also fascinating cases of quarterbacks who dazzled in their debut, only for their careers to follow different trajectories. D.J. Shockley, who patiently waited behind David Greene for most of his college career, finally got the starting nod in 2005 and exploded for over 250 yards passing and five total touchdowns against Boise State in the opener. Though technically not his first time seeing the field, it was his first start as Georgia’s undisputed QB1, and he made the most of it, leading to an SEC Championship and earning SEC Offensive Player of the Year honors. His debut start remains one of the most electric and well-rounded in program history.

On the flip side, the annals of Georgia football also include examples of players who shined statistically in their debut but failed to maintain that level of performance in the long run. Joe Tereshinski III, who filled in for an injured D.J. Shockley in 2005 against Florida, managed a decent passing performance in terms of yardage but struggled with efficiency and turnovers. His brief time as a starter revealed just how tough it is to follow in the footsteps of star quarterbacks and how fleeting opportunity can be in college football’s competitive environment.

The diversity of debut performances also speaks to the evolution of the game. In the 1950s and 1960s, Georgia quarterbacks rarely threw more than 15-20 times per game, even as starters. Passing yardage in first starts during that era was modest at best—numbers in the 80-120 yard range were considered respectable. It wasn’t until the modern era, particularly from the 1980s onward, that more significant passing outputs began to appear in first starts. The difference in offensive philosophy is stark. Under coaches like Vince Dooley, the Bulldogs were known for grinding the ball down the field, trusting the run game, and leaning on defense. Quarterbacks in this era often had first starts that focused more on ball control than on lighting up the stat sheet.

In recent years, however, the shift toward more balanced offenses and even pass-heavy attacks has given quarterbacks more opportunity to rack up yards from the jump. Players like Jacob Eason, who made his first start in 2016 against Nicholls State, took advantage of modern play-calling that emphasized tempo and big plays. While Eason’s debut wasn’t particularly explosive—he threw for 204 yards and a touchdown—it was part of a broader trend that allowed young quarterbacks to throw early and often, gaining confidence and rhythm quickly. That same trend can be seen in more recent freshmen and transfers who have had to step in immediately due to injuries, departures, or depth chart movement.

Of course, not all debut passing yard totals are reflective of a quarterback’s potential or ceiling. Some quarterbacks are thrust into less-than-ideal situations—injuries, poor protection, or mismatched schemes—that limit their production in their first outing. Others are helped by facing overmatched defenses or playing in pass-heavy game plans. The context around these first starts is critical to understanding their significance. For example, Quincy Carter’s debut in 1998 was statistically modest, but he showed enough flashes to eventually earn the starting role and guide Georgia to multiple bowl appearances. Similarly, Hutson Mason, who spent most of his career as a backup, finally got a start late in the 2013 season and threw for over 300 yards in a double-overtime thriller against Georgia Tech. Though not a traditional “debut” by most standards, his first start still offered a statistical boom and a glimpse of his readiness.

Another layer to consider is the rise of the transfer portal and how it has altered the quarterback timeline. In the past, many Georgia quarterbacks sat for years before earning a start. Now, transfers like Jamie Newman (though he never ultimately played due to opting out in 2020) or J.T. Daniels come in with experience elsewhere and are expected to produce immediately. Daniels’ first start in 2020 against Mississippi State was a revelation: over 400 passing yards and four touchdowns in an air-raid shootout. It was one of the highest single-game totals in Georgia history and certainly among the most explosive debut performances ever by a Bulldogs QB.

What these various first starts illustrate is how complex and varied the path to quarterbacking success can be at Georgia. Some players shine early and never let go of the job. Others rise, stumble, or even disappear just as quickly. But that first start always matters—it’s a test of readiness, skill, leadership, and toughness, all rolled into a single afternoon that can define careers, change the course of seasons, and energize a fan base hungry for another elite signal-caller.

In total, the history of first starts for Georgia quarterbacks is as much about opportunity and context as it is about yardage and touchdowns. Still, the record books remain clear: the quarterbacks who threw for the most yards in their debut left a mark not just in the stat column, but in the hearts and hopes of Georgia fans. Whether it was a harbinger of greatness or a fleeting flash of brilliance, each debut added to the rich tapestry of Bulldog football. With each new season, a fresh face might rise, eager to etch his name into that tradition—one throw, one drive, one yard at a time.