Carson Beck downplays competition with Brock Vandagriff

Carson Beck downplayed the overall quarterback competition at Georgia. Beck might be the leader in the clubhouse for the gig over Brock Vandagriff.

But, head coach Kirby Smart has yet to announce the full time starter for the 2023 campaign. Now that two-time national champion Stetson Bennett is off to the NFL, it’s a new era under center for the Bulldogs.

Beck downplayed the competition but didn’t shy away from it either.

“Since I’ve been here, (there’s) been constant competition since my freshman year,” Beck said. “You know, we have a very deep quarterback room and I think we have deep rooms all over the place. Wide receiver, tight end, offensive line, and that’s how it should be. I mean, we’re at the University of Georgia. We’re one of the best programs in the country and every position has competition. I think that brings the best out of all of us.”

But, Beck was asked if he hoped the competition would be settled early so the team could settle into the starting quarterback.

“Honestly, I’m not really worried about anything like that as far as a decision or something,” Beck said. “You know, the coaches are going to do what they do and all I can worry about is what I control every single day. Going out there, practicing my butt off, working out, watching film, making sure that I’m getting better every day. Because when I start to focus on other things, you know, that could tail me off in the wrong direction. So just focus on myself.”

Beck saw a little action over the last two years but appeared to steadily improve in 2022. He was 26-of-35 (74.3%) for 310 yards and four touchdowns.

But behind him is Vandagriff, a former five-star prospect per the On3 Industry Ranking.

“For both of them, I think Brock has taken a big step as far as his mental aspect of the game,” Beck said of Vandagriff and fellow quarterback Gunner Stockton. “You know, he asked lots of questions. He’s very in tune. And we’ve always been like that, you know, I ask him questions. He asked me questions. We kind of bounce back and forth off of each other of different plays or different reads or like what would you do on it? What would you do on that? 

“And then for Gunner, same thing, you know, he’s still a young gun in the building, but just trying to learn off of each other and constantly kind of going in circles of asking questions to each other. What would you do here and what would you do there?”

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