Over the weekend, Georgia Bulldogs head coach Kirby Smart named Carson Beck the starting quarterback for the team.
That may have made national news, but around Athens, Beck has seemed to be the guy for quite some time. He served as Stetson Bennett’s backup last season and performed very well in limited action, completing 74.3% of his passes for 310 yards and four touchdowns compared to no interceptions. He’s got all the physical abilities to be great, but Smart tends to be more concerned with how quarterbacks are prepared mentally, which is what made this an easy decision.
“Carson is a very even-keeled individual. He’s been that way since we recruited him, all the way back to his eleventh-grade year,” said Smart, via On3.com. “He’s not a highs and lows, he’s not a real emotional guy. He’s not a real fiery guy. He’s very laid back. He understands his job. He’s very intelligent, but he’s — you know, every leader has their own way.
“He certainly commands the room. I think the players around him understand how bright he is. They trust him. And Carson’s had a lot of reps, a lot of work, they just haven’t all been game reps.”
There are always going to be questions surrounding a program when a new quarterback takes over, especially when one is taking over for a guy who just led the Bulldogs to back-to-back national championships. Beck has massive shoes to fill, but it’s not like he hasn’t been around the program.
Beck enrolled at the University of Georgia in January of 2020. He’s been with this program for nearly four years, won two national championships as the backup, waited his turn, and now he’s ready to lead this team to a national championship of his own. Whether it’s practice, in the film room, on game day, or even when he’s being interviewed, it is impressive. Beck is clearly a highly intelligent QB with incredible knowledge of the offense because of his experience. He couldn’t be more prepared for this moment, and he has a helluva supporting cast around him to make this season special.
On the latest episode of SportsTalkATL, we discuss the expectations for Carson Beck, and what — if anything — could hold this Bulldogs offense back. You can find SportsTalkATL on the Fox 5 Local App, available on Roku, Apple TV, and Amazon Fire TV. Segments like the one below are also available on our YouTube channel.
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Photographer: John Adams/Icon Sportswire
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