MIAMI — Having made up his mind about his future seems to have done Carson Beck some good.
That’s according to his coaches and teammates, who report that Georgia’s quarterback has been playing fast in loose in the Bulldogs’ practices for the Orange Bowl.
“Carson Beck has had an unbelievable bowl prep,” Georgia tight ends coach Todd Hartley said Wednesday. “Just some of the things he’s done in practice, some of the throws he’s made. Everybody knows he’s a very talented passer of the football, but some of throws he’s made this bowl camp have been like, ‘wow, this dude’s elite man!”
After the Bulldogs lost to Alabama in SEC Championship game, the 6-foot-4, 220-pound Beck had some decisions to make. Preliminary evaluations had him as a top-10 quarterback for the next NFL draft. If the junior wanted to improve on that, he’d have to consider opting out of the bowl game to focus on training.
Ten days ago, he announced on social media he planned to return for another season.
“My friends and family have helped put me in a situation to have options for my future,” Beck wrote. “However, the NFL can wait one more year. I am returning to UGA for my senior season.”
That decision set a number of developments into motion. Two days later, 5-star quarterback prospect Dylan Raiola signed with Nebraska instead of Georgia, to whom he’d been committed for eight months. And Beck, who never stopped practicing and preparing with the Bulldogs, took his workouts to a new level.
“Carson is elite,” junior cornerback Kamari Lassiter said. “He’s a really good quarterback, and the offense runs through him. Carson is always laser-focused, the same guy all the time, even-keeled. I mean, he’s always locked in despite the circumstances. Just to see that from him doesn’t really surprise me because that’s just who he is. …
“I’m excited to see him come back and see what he can do next year.”
Beck wasn’t sure if it was getting his big decision out of the way, but he’s definitely feeling good heading into Saturday’s game.
“I definitely think that was something heavy on my mind after the (SEC Championship) game,” Beck said during Thursday morning’s Orange Bowl interview session. “Now that it’s in the past and people aren’t really talking about it, it’s something I don’t have to think about and I can just lock in and focus on this game and our plan and go out there and just try to execute at the highest level.”
Beck arrives at the Orange Bowl needing only 155 yards to set Georgia’s record for most passing yards in a single season. Stetson Bennett owns the current mark of 4,127 in 2022. At 72.43%, he’s a virtual lock to finish the season with the highest completion percentage in school history.
Suffice it to say, Beck’s return has given the Bulldogs a boost a confidence. And their situation stands in stark contrast to their Orange Bowl opponent. The Seminoles will be starting their third-stringer, freshman Brock Glenn, with Jordan Travis sidelined with a leg injury and backup Tate Rodemaker deciding to opt out.
“To have him back, it just creates a lot of confidence and energy for our team,” coach Kirby Smart said on SEC Network. “A lot of the guys around him on offense have more confidence because he’s coming back, and the defensive players know we’re going to have the ability to score points and be explosive. When you have an experienced quarterback, it drives your offense. We’re lucky to have him coming back.”
Beck talks to reporters Wednesday morning for the first time since making his decision.
