Gary Chatman

Physical Profile

Listed at 6-0, 190 lbs. Taller than 14% and heavier than 23% of 2027 Quarterback prospects in the SEC Scouts database (22 with a listed size).

Play Style

He is a quick-processing dual-threat who wins with his legs and his deep ball. On film he works best on RPOs, play-action shots, and designed runs where his speed stresses the edge defenders. He has the arm talent and touch to drop throws in over the top downfield, and when the first read is covered he can turn a broken play into a big gain instead of taking a sack. Short-to-intermediate passing on time is solid, and his 3:1 TD-to-INT ratio shows he doesn't force throws. Like most young running quarterbacks, he can leave the pocket too soon when it is still clean.

Strengths

• Big plays as a runner. He gained 418 rushing yards and scored 5 TDs at 11.9 yards per carry in 10 games of 2025, and opened 2026 with a 31-yard TD run in a 52-7 Corky Kell Classic win over Cambridge. Speed in the 4.4s makes him dangerous on designed QB runs and when plays break down.
• Accuracy and touch on deep throws. 247Sports' Andrew Ivins says he 'flashes as a down-field passer,' and other evaluators praise his tight spiral and ball placement downfield. He keeps throwing chances on target instead of just tucking and running.
• Takes care of the ball as a first-year starter. He threw 12 TDs and 4 INTs on 1,494 yards in 2025 (3:1 ratio) while playing in Georgia's top classification at a Gwinnett County program.
• Calm in the pocket. Evaluators noted his pocket awareness and that his height did not keep him from working inside the pocket in the 2026 opener (162 yards, 2 TDs, then sat most of the second half).

Areas to Improve

• Seeing the field and finding throwing lanes at about 6-0. He needs to throw consistently from a clean pocket against taller SEC defensive lines and keep from bailing early just because he can outrun people.
• Experience and mental load. He has had roughly one full season as a starter, and an injury cut it short. He needs more reps reading the whole field, handling pre-snap protections, and throwing on time to his second and third reads.
• Durability and strength. Adding mass, and learning to slide or get out of bounds instead of taking hits, will decide whether he can handle a college running-QB workload after the collarbone injury.

College Projection

He should redshirt or serve as a developmental backup in 2027. That year should go to adding strength and learning Alex Golesh's fast-tempo, spread RPO offense. Golesh's offenses have reliably used running quarterbacks, so Chatman's legs give him an early role as a change-of-pace or short-yardage package QB. A realistic timeline is to compete for QB2 in 2028 and start by 2029-30 if his reading of defenses grows with his physical tools. Because of his size he will have to clearly beat out taller prospects to win the job, so his development will need to outpace his 3-star ranking.

Best Fit

A tempo spread RPO offense with a large designed-run package for the quarterback, which is what Golesh runs at Auburn. That scheme hides his height with moving launch points, half-field reads, and play-action, and it gets the most out of his deep-ball touch and 4.4 speed. He would struggle in a pro-style, under-center offense built around dropping back and reading the whole field from the pocket. The ideal setup lets him develop for a year and a half before he is asked to carry the offense.