Bailey Stockton looks for running room against Georgia on Saturday at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta. (Photo: Victoria Riccobono/UAA Communications)
Stockton Embodies Toughness Sumrall Wants From Gators
Sunday, November 1, 2026 | Football
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By: Ryan Roddy, FloridaGators.com Student Writer
ATLANTA — Florida receiver Bailey Stockton walked to the podium wearing a boot on his right foot and disappointment on his face.
He looked like he was in pain. But it wasn't necessarily his foot that was bothering him. It was the Gators' loss to Georgia.
"It's frustrating, for sure," Stockton said after Saturday's 27-8 loss at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. "We're beating ourselves every game right now. I feel like we are good enough to beat anybody. We've proven that. But we are just beating ourselves right now."
Stockton could very well not have played Saturday.
He did, though, not because he was pressured. He wanted to.
After spending much of the week in the training room working with head athletic trainer Paul Silvestri and his staff, Stockton approached head coach Jon Sumrall on Friday and asked if he could run some routes. Bailey Stockton signals first down after one of his catches on Saturday against Georgia. (Photo: Victoria Riccobono/UAA Communications)
"I'm like, 'Yeah, if you're good with it let's go,' " Sumrall said.
Freshman quarterback Will Griffin was pulled aide to throw to Stockton, who ran some routes uncovered.
Afterward, Sumrall asked the senior receiver what he thought.
Stockton's response: "I'm ready to play, let's go."
His time in the training room was cut short. With the Gators scheduled to face the third-ranked Bulldogs the next day, Stockton needed to get back to work and familiarize himself with the game plan.
With Florida's receiving corps already depleted by injuries, his availability would be significant.
Stockton's decision to play was also influenced by seeing fellow receiver Vernell Brown III suffer another setback in his recovery. Brown hasn't played since the first half of Florida's Sept. 26 victory over Ole Miss and was slated to return Saturday before aggravating the preexisting injury Wednesday. Brown tested his injured knee soon after the Gators arrived at the stadium Saturday but was ruled out prior to kickoff.
"Well, I woke up Friday morning and he [Brown] was hurt," Stockton said. "So, was just like, 'Let me go out there and run.' I went out there and ran. It hurt. I don't know."
Stockton decided to push through the pain because, as he explained while sitting at the podium with his boot hidden beneath the blue tablecloth, the more players Florida had available, the better its chances.
Stockton's progression through the injury report — from doubtful to questionable to a game-time decision — made his appearance something of a surprise. His production made it even more significant.
He caught all eight passes thrown his way for 76 yards, leading the Gators in receiving.
Stockton also continued his role as Florida's punt returner, filling in for Brown since the Ole Miss game. He fielded two of Georgia's three punts and returned them for 31 yards, including a 22-yard runback that provided a spark for the Gators' sideline.
Even if Stockton hadn't caught a pass or returned a punt, simply making it onto the field drew high praise from Sumrall.
"He's tough as hell, man. We need to recruit more dudes like that," Sumrall said. "We got to recruit a lot of dudes like that because tough guys in this game, they win. I love Bailey Stockton. Love all our guys, but I'm very grateful for his determination to try to find a way to play."
It wasn't the first time Stockton surprised people with his willingness to return to the field.
Against Ole Miss, he took a hard hit to the head and neck area in the second quarter and remained down for several minutes. An Ole Miss defensive back was ejected for targeting. Yet Stockton was back on the field in the second half.
A Georgia Tech transfer, it started with Clean, Old-Fashioned Hate and has since evolved into an appreciation for the Florida-Georgia rivalry.
And like any Gator, Stockton was as frustrated as the fans, players and coaches with Saturday's outcome.
But as he sat at the podium, his attention wasn't on the boot protecting his injured foot. It was on the bigger picture — and what the Gators still have left to play for.
"Yeah, 9-3 is the only thing that we should be thinking about, for sure," he said.
