Carson Beck
Carson Beck is an American college football quarterback for the University of Miami Hurricanes.[1][2] Born in Jacksonville, Florida, on November 19, 2002, Beck stands at 6 feet 4 inches and weighs 220 pounds.[2] He previously played for the University of Georgia Bulldogs, where he emerged as the starting quarterback in 2023 after redshirting in 2020 and serving as a backup in prior seasons.[3] As Georgia's starter, Beck led the Bulldogs to a 24-3 record across 27 games, amassing 7,912 passing yards and 58 touchdowns during his tenure there.[1] In the 2024 season, he demonstrated proficiency under pressure in select performances, such as completing 11 of 14 passes for 191 yards and four touchdowns in limited action against a strong opponent.[4] However, his senior year also saw increased interceptions, with one every 37.3 attempts compared to rarer errors in earlier seasons, amid heightened defensive pressures.[5] Following that campaign, Beck transferred to Miami via the portal, where in the 2025 season through early games, he has recorded 1,484 passing yards, 11 touchdowns, and 7 interceptions with a 73.0% completion rate.[6][7] His high school career at Mandarin High School in Jacksonville honed his skills, leading to recruitment by Georgia.[8] Beck's family background includes his father, Chris Beck, a former Navy linebacker and youth coach, and mother Tracy, contributing to his athletic foundation.[9]
Early life
High school career
Carson Beck was born on November 19, 2002, in Jacksonville, Florida, and attended Mandarin High School, where he played quarterback after transferring from Providence School following his sophomore year.[10][1] As a junior in 2018, Beck completed 209 of 356 passes for 3,546 yards and 39 touchdowns, leading Mandarin to the Florida Class 8A state championship and earning Mr. Football honors in the state along with MaxPreps Junior All-America Second Team recognition.[11][1] In his senior season, he recorded 136 completions out of 278 attempts for 1,843 passing yards and 20 touchdowns, while adding 167 rushing yards and six rushing touchdowns.[10] Beck was evaluated as a four-star recruit by ESPN (national No. 234, pocket passer quarterback No. 16), Rivals (national No. 219), and other services, receiving scholarship offers from programs including Alabama, Florida, and Georgia.[1][12] After initially committing to Alabama in 2018 and later decommitting, he pledged to Georgia in March 2019 over finalists Florida and others.[13][14]College career
Georgia Bulldogs (2020–2024)
Carson Beck enrolled at the University of Georgia in 2020 as a four-star quarterback recruit from Jacksonville, Florida. He redshirted during the 2020 season, preserving his eligibility while learning behind established quarterbacks.[15][16] In the 2021 and 2022 seasons, Beck served as the backup to Stetson Bennett, appearing in limited action across Georgia's back-to-back national championship campaigns. He played in seven games during 2022, primarily in mop-up roles, as the Bulldogs compiled dominant records and secured titles with Bennett leading the offense.[1][17] Beck earned the starting role entering 2023, guiding Georgia to a 13-1 finish despite a loss in the SEC Championship Game to Alabama. In 14 appearances, he completed 302 of 417 passes for 3,941 yards, 24 touchdowns, and 6 interceptions, achieving a 72.4% completion rate and ranking first in the SEC in passing yards. The Bulldogs capped the year with a 63-3 Orange Bowl victory over Florida State.[18][19][3] Returning as starter in 2024, Beck appeared in 13 games, completing 290 of 448 passes for 3,485 yards, 28 touchdowns, and 12 interceptions with a 64.7% completion rate. He led Georgia to an 11-2 regular-season record and a win in the SEC Championship, though the team faced challenges in playoff contention.[3][20]
2020–2022 seasons
Beck redshirted the 2020 season at the University of Georgia, preserving a year of eligibility while acclimating to college football under head coach Kirby Smart.[1] During the 2021 season, Beck saw limited action in four games as a freshman, completing 10 of 23 passes for 176 yards with two touchdowns and two interceptions.[21] His appearances provided early exposure to game situations within Georgia's pro-style offense, emphasizing pocket presence and decision-making.[14] In 2022, Beck served as the primary backup to starting quarterback Stetson Bennett during Georgia's undefeated national championship campaign.[22] He appeared in seven games, completing 26 of 35 passes for 310 yards and four touchdowns without an interception, gaining valuable experience in high-stakes environments including playoff matchups.[21] This period allowed Beck to refine his skills in Smart's system, preparing him for an eventual transition to the starting role by absorbing the complexities of the Bulldogs' scheme and contributing to team practices.[22]2023 season
Carson Beck entered the 2023 season as the Georgia Bulldogs' starting quarterback after Stetson Bennett's professional departure, winning the job over competitors including Brock Vandagriff.[3] In his first year as the full-time starter, Beck appeared in all 14 games, completing 302 of 417 passes for 3,941 yards, 24 touchdowns, and 6 interceptions, achieving a 72.4% completion rate and a 167.92 passer rating.[19] These figures ranked him third nationally in passing yards and first in the Southeastern Conference (SEC).[3] Under Beck's leadership, Georgia compiled a 13-1 overall record and an undefeated 8-0 mark in SEC play, securing the SEC Eastern Division title before falling 27-24 to Alabama in the SEC Championship Game on December 2.[23] Notable regular-season victories included a 43-20 win over Florida on October 28, where Beck threw for 315 yards and 2 touchdowns on 19-of-28 passing, and a 38-10 defeat of Tennessee on November 18.[24] The Bulldogs capped the postseason with a dominant 63-3 Orange Bowl victory over Florida State on December 30, setting an FBS record for largest margin of victory in a bowl game; Beck contributed 203 passing yards and 2 touchdowns in limited action amid the blowout.[25] Beck's performance drew acclaim for his accuracy and poise within Georgia's run-pass option (RPO)-infused offensive scheme, which emphasized quick decisions and protection from an elite offensive line.[2] He earned second-team All-SEC honors and was a finalist for the Manning Award, recognizing his breakout campaign despite the team's single loss.[26]2024 season
Beck started all 13 games as Georgia's quarterback during the 2024 season, leading the Bulldogs to an 11-3 overall record and a berth in the College Football Playoff.[27] His performance included guiding the team through a challenging schedule marked by close victories and high-scoring outputs, culminating in a 22-19 overtime win over Texas in the SEC Championship Game on December 7.[27] [28] In the SEC title game, Beck sustained a severe injury to the ulnar collateral ligament in his throwing elbow late in the first half after being hit while attempting a pass, which forced him from the contest and ultimately required season-ending surgery on December 23.[29] [30] Despite the injury, backup Gunner Stockton preserved the victory, securing Georgia's third SEC championship in four years under Beck's earlier contributions that season.[31] Beck faced scrutiny for turnovers in key defeats, including four in the September 28 loss to Alabama (three interceptions and one fumble), which hampered comeback efforts in the 41-34 defeat, and additional picks in the upset to Ole Miss.[32] [33] Critics, including Georgia fans and media outlets, attributed portions of these losses to his decision-making under pressure, though the team's overall success highlighted his role in sustaining offensive production amid defensive lapses.[34]Transfer to Miami Hurricanes
On January 9, 2025, Carson Beck entered the NCAA transfer portal, reversing his December 28, 2024, declaration for the 2025 NFL Draft following a season-ending elbow injury sustained during Georgia's SEC Championship Game loss to Texas on December 7, 2024.[35][36] The injury required surgery to repair his ulnar collateral ligament (UCL) in his throwing arm on December 23, 2024, sidelining him for Georgia's College Football Playoff semifinal matchup.[29] Beck cited the need for a fresh start to rehabilitate and rebuild his draft stock as primary factors, noting the injury disrupted his senior season performance and limited his exposure in high-stakes games.[37] Less than 24 hours later, on January 10, 2025, Beck committed to the Miami Hurricanes for his final year of eligibility, forgoing other reported interest from programs like Ohio State and Texas Tech.[38][39] Ranked as the No. 1 overall transfer prospect and top quarterback available by 247Sports, his move elevated Miami's 2025 transfer class into the top 10 nationally and was linked to lucrative name, image, and likeness (NIL) opportunities estimated at $4 million or more in valuations from collectives and endorsements.[37][40] Beck's NIL package, including deals with local brands, reflected the market-driven incentives increasingly influencing player mobility since the NCAA's 2021 interim NIL policy.[41] The transfer drew significant backlash from Georgia fans, who criticized the timing—mere weeks after the Bulldogs' SEC title win and amid playoff fallout—as an abrupt abandonment lacking loyalty to the program that recruited him as a four-star prospect.[42] Social media reactions highlighted frustration over perceived disloyalty, with some fans viewing it as emblematic of eroded traditions in an era where NIL compensation prioritizes financial gain over institutional allegiance.[43] Supporters of the decision, however, argued it represented a rational, market-based choice for a player whose injury diminished his 2024 stats (65.5% completion, 12 interceptions) and draft projection, emphasizing how NIL has commoditized college athletics by enabling athletes to maximize earnings akin to professional contracts without immediate pro risks.[44][37] This divide underscores broader debates on transfer portal dynamics, where empirical data on rising NIL valuations (e.g., top transfers securing multimillion-dollar packages) supports player agency, while critics decry the dilution of program loyalty and competitive stability.[45]2025 season
Beck entered the 2025 season as a leading Heisman Trophy contender following his transfer to the Miami Hurricanes, with the team ranked No. 2 in preseason polls amid high expectations for his arm talent in a pass-friendly ACC offense.[38] Through six games as of mid-October, he had accumulated 1,484 passing yards, 11 touchdowns, and 7 interceptions, with a completion percentage around 73% but a QBR of 80.9 reflecting inconsistent efficiency.[46] His interception rate marked a notable increase from his Georgia tenure, where he maintained low turnover figures, attributed in part to forcing throws under pressure and adapting to Miami's scheme, which emphasized deeper shots but exposed vulnerabilities against aggressive defenses.[5][47] A lingering elbow injury from the 2024 SEC Championship Game hampered Beck's spring preparation, limiting his velocity and decision-making reps, which contributed to early-season rust evident in higher sack rates and errant deep attempts.[48] His PFF deep-ball grade stood at 64.4 through October, ranking 61st among 75 qualifiers with at least 25 attempts, signaling a drop in precision on downfield throws compared to prior years, potentially exacerbated by Miami's offensive line allowing elevated pressures—up to 35% in key matchups—disrupting rhythm.[47] In the October 17 loss to Louisville, a 24-21 upset that ended Miami's unbeaten start and plummeted Heisman odds, Beck threw four interceptions, including forced passes into coverage, mirroring rebound patterns from past defeats like the 2024 Alabama game but without the subsequent clean-sheet recovery.[49][50] Post-loss critiques highlighted Beck's tendency to lock onto primary reads amid scheme mismatches, with Miami's run-pass balance—leaning 55% pass attempts—amplifying risks when protection faltered, as evidenced by a 12.5% turnover-worthy play rate per PFF in pressured drops.[51] Despite flashes of rebound potential, such as multi-touchdown outputs in wins over Florida State, the mid-season trajectory underscored causal challenges: inferior line play yielding 2.5 sacks per game and a less forgiving ACC schedule testing his pocket mobility more than Georgia's SEC slate.[52] Overall, these factors have tempered initial hype, positioning Beck as a solid but not elite performer amid Miami's playoff aspirations.[53]Career statistics and records
Passing and rushing statistics
Carson Beck's college passing statistics, accumulated over 45 games from 2020 to 2025, reflect his progression from limited backup appearances to full-time starter roles at Georgia and Miami. In 2023, he recorded 3,941 passing yards as Georgia's primary quarterback, a figure that ranked among the top 10 nationally for the season.[21][1] By contrast, in 2025 with Miami through six games as of late October, Beck threw 7 interceptions on 174 attempts, equating to roughly one interception every 25 passes.[21]| Year | Team | Games | Completions | Attempts | Completion % | Yards | TDs | INTs | Efficiency Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | Georgia | 1 | 0 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | 0 | — |
| 2021 | Georgia | 4 | 10 | 23 | 43.5 | 176 | 2 | 2 | 119.1 |
| 2022 | Georgia | 7 | 26 | 35 | 74.3 | 310 | 4 | 0 | 186.4 |
| 2023 | Georgia | 14 | 302 | 417 | 72.4 | 3,941 | 24 | 6 | 167.9 |
| 2024 | Georgia | 13 | 290 | 448 | 64.7 | 3,485 | 28 | 12 | 145.3 |
| 2025 | Miami | 6 | 127 | 174 | 73.0 | 1,484 | 11 | 7 | 157.4 |
| Year | Team | Games | Attempts | Yards | Average | TDs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | Georgia | 1 | 0 | 0 | — | 0 |
| 2021 | Georgia | 4 | 5 | 15 | 3.0 | 0 |
| 2022 | Georgia | 7 | 7 | 43 | 6.1 | 0 |
| 2023 | Georgia | 14 | 60 | 116 | 1.9 | 4 |
| 2024 | Georgia | 13 | 55 | 71 | 1.3 | 1 |
| 2025 | Miami | 6 | 18 | 26 | 1.4 | 1 |