Former UGA quarterback Carson Beck is a Miami Hurricane. Beck, who injured his elbow in the College Football Playoff, will be the (alleged) $4 million dollar man in Coral Gables in 2025.
A Jacksonville, FL native, Beck was a two-year starter for UGA. Beck led the Dawgs to back-to-back SEC Championship Games including an SEC title in 2024. After a strong showing in ‘23, Beck’s stats drastically worsened this season.
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Photo by Perry McIntyre/ISI Photos/Getty Images
Beck threw a league high 12 interceptions this season, while also seeing dips in his completion percentage and yards per attempt. Beck did throw four more touchdowns than in ‘23, but also took seven more sacks.
UGA played against six ranked opponents (including Texas twice) with Beck behind center this season. The Dawgs were 4-2 against those opponents, and Beck threw seven TD’s with seven INT’s and was sacked 11 times. The Dawgs were plagued by drops in 2024 including over 35 drops (yes, 35) with Beck at QB.
In ‘23, UGA played seven ranked opponents with Beck behind center. The Bulldogs were 6-1 in those games last year with Beck throwing 13 TD’s and two INT’s while being sacked six times.
The Film
Back during the regular season the Bulldogs faced off with the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets during rival weekend. I chose this film because Miami also played GT in a close game. The Bulldogs escaped with a 44-42 win in eight overtimes to move to 10-2 before the SEC Championship Game.
Against GT, Carson Beck averaged only 6.9 yards per pass attempt but did throw five touchdowns on zero interceptions. Beck spread the ball around to 10 different receivers with four averaging double-digit yards per catch.
Beck was sacked twice by the Ga. Tech defense which was one of the worst teams for getting pressure on QB’s in all of college football.
Fergus Connolly, the author of Game Changer and The Process, believes there are nine passing zones for a QB. Dub Maddux splits the field into short, intermediate, and deep with five zones (number-hash-middle-hash-number) for each.
Can Carson Beck make each of those throws?
Above– Beck throws his receiver open here in the intermediate middle passing zone off a glance route to the left hash. A QB that can lead a WR open but not too far into danger has good ball placement.
Above– Here Beck can throw from the left hash to outside of the far numbers on a 10-yard out. That’s an NFL quality throw and it’s a throw shielded by his WR’s pads (think: boxing out) from the defender. Again, ball placement to keep the throw under and out.
Above– Beck was sacked 29 times in two seasons at UGA. Here it’s a 7-step drop in the gun (5-steps) and he has to know the ball must come out when you take that deep of a drop. He tries to escape but couldn’t.
Above– Even with his feet moving and under pressure Beck can drop this in for his TE on the corner route. He has to throw this one up and over so it’s a smidge short but still solid placement vs. the defender.
Above– As Beck hits his hitch on the read route he sees his rush concept open and gets the ball to the bubble guy on the check down. He doesn’t force the throw and takes what’s given.
Above– James Coley’s WR room had three dozen drops in 2024. Beck gets through his rhythm, hitches to his read and fires it in and it’s dropped. This throw should go high when it does go low– but it should’ve been caught.
Above– Here’s “6” from the Air Raid playbook, four verts, for a TD. Beck looks off the outside WR to the left and throws to the inside threat instead. It’s over one defender and inside the others.
Above– Beck can scramble when he needs to. However, he’s probably going to want to take less hits after the UCL repair in his elbow. QB’s can’t be statues in this era and Beck isn’t one, he’s an athletic guy but he doesn’t escape with that ++ quality of Cam Ward.
Above– If you’re throwing front pylon in the end zone the throw should be low and away. The WR should’ve worked further to the pylon out of trouble and the throw should be outside not inside.
Above– Again his mobility buys time. Space creates time. He runs into a delayed blitz but can still get the throw off deep and outside. Beck has a strong arm and understands touch on deep throws.
The Wrap
Carson Beck is used to playing football against top-10 SP+ defenses and will mostly fan defenses in the 40’s per SP+ in 2025. Even with an injured elbow that will need major rehab I think he’s going to play just fine for the Miami Hurricanes.
Will Beck be ready for Notre Dame with limited time to mesh with his teammates after missing spring football? We’re going to see that on the field at Hard Rock Stadium on Labor Day weekend.
Beck is a clear NFL Draft prospect who needs to prove that he’s recovered from this injury and that he’s improved his decision making in ‘25. If Mario Cristobal and Shannon Dawson can do for Beck what they did for Cam Ward, Miami might become QBU again.
