Evaluating the importance of Carson Beck returning to Georgia for 2024

Carson Beck could have left for the NFL after the 2023 campaign. Instead, the Georgia quarterback came back to finish the job. In a conversation with On3’s Andy Staples, DawgsHQ’s Jake Rowe revealed how Beck’s decision will impact Georgia’s 2024 campaign.

“I go back to when Aaron Murray had that four-year run at Georgia,” Rowe said. “It seemed like Georgia just plugged and played at wide receiver because Aaron Murray elevated them so well. He elevated those around him and I think, this past year, especially maybe through the first two-thirds of the season, Carson Beck had to lean on Brock Bowers. And when Ladd [McConkey] came back and Bowers was out, he had to lean on Ladd.

“You saw it toward the latter part of the season, when both Ladd and Brock were either limited or missed that Tennessee game, and it played later on in the year, you were kind of like, ‘Alright, now this guy might have the ability to kind of elevate those around him.’ I think you have to expect that going into Year Two.”

Beck was no slouch in his debut campaign as a starter. The 6-foot-4 junior finished the season ranked third nationally and first in the SEC in passing yards (3,941), as well as fourth in the nation in completion percentage (.724).

For his efforts, he was named a Coaches All-SEC Second Team selection and was a finalist for the Manning Award. Beck played in his fair share of massive matchups last season, including showdowns against Ole Miss, Alabama and Florida State.

Carson Beck isn’t afraid of a challenge

However, Beck didn’t play in enemy territory against any of these opponents. This season, the Bulldogs will routinely march into opposing stadiums with hopes to escape with a win. Rowe believes that challenge is enticing to Beck.

“You heard a lot about, ‘Hey, you got to play at Alabama. You got to play at Texas. You got to play at Ole Miss,'” Rowe said. “Those are legacy-building-type games. And I think Carson is kind of wired that way. Steady hand, all the talent in the world — I think Georgia fans have got a lot to be excited about.

“I wrote a column and I said, ‘Listen, this guy returning, this piece of good news is going to overshadow any other piece of reasonably bad news going forward because this was the main key as far as returning.’ I love the fact that he’s back for Georgia.”