Carson Beck injury update: Mario Cristobal updates status moving into Summer

New Miami quarterback Carson Beck wasn’t able to do much during spring practice while still rehabbing from a UCL elbow injury suffered in the 2024 SEC Championship Game last December. But as the Hurricanes turn to the page from spring to summer, the former Georgia transfer is expected to be cleared to resume physical activities beginning Monday, according to ‘Canes head coach Mario Cristobal.

“The good part is, as our PLP — our player-led practices — come up, he’s going to be fully cleared for all of those, so he’ll have the opportunity to have about 16 of those before we even head into fall camp,” Cristobal told reporters Saturday following the conclusion of spring practice. “Not to mention going on his own with the players. So there’s a lot of opportunity coming up. He certainly took advantage of whatever he could mentally, the physical part begins on Monday. So we’re excited for that.”

Sporting a new No. 11 practice jersey this spring, Beck has been limited to running and select throwing exercises as part of his rehab after undergoing surgery to repair the UCL in his throwing elbow suffered on the final play of the first half of Georgia’s win over Texas in last season’s SEC Championship Game.

The injury ended a somewhat disappointing 2024 season in Athens, his second as the Bulldogs’ starter, in which Beck finished with 3,485 passing yards, 28 touchdowns and a SEC-worst 12 interceptions. After initially declaring his intentions to enter the 2025 NFL Draft, Beck reversed course and opted to enter the NCAA Transfer Portal on Jan. 9 and was in Coral Gables less than 24 hours later.

Mario Cristobal on holdouts following Nico Iamaleava situation: ‘We’re not going to do it at Miami’

Coaches across college football have begun to speak on the Nico Iamaleava situation. While Josh Heupel is attempting to keep a cool head after losing his starting quarterback, Mario Cristobal is not fully taking the same approach.

Of course, this is not currently happening at Miami at the moment. Players might search for reupped NIL deals all the time but Iamaleava skipping practice as a holdout is something new inside the sport. And when speaking on the subject, Cristobal made it clear the Hurricanes will not be a part of any kind of holdout.

“We’re not going to do that at Miami,” Cristobal said. “And I say that without any hesitation. If anyone is thinking that — They can be the best player in the world. If they wanna play holdout, they might as well play get out. Don’t want to do that, don’t want Miami to become that. Too many guys have sweat, bled, and have laid on the line on that field to ever become that kind of program.”

Seeing Iamaleava leave via the NCAA Transfer Portal does not appear surprising to Cristobal. What he would be cautious of is a school ponying up to the demands of players who are willing to hold out for money. Cristobal suggested that could lead to even more holdouts.

“I think you stay real and true to the program,” Cristobal said. “Make the decisions that are best for the program. … Everybody is in the portal and the portal is always open. It’s always open and everybody’s in it. It’s all about what you’re willing to accept and draw the line in your program. Once you allow that to happen and agree to it, prepare for a line of 80 guys to do the same thing.”

— On3’s Griffin McVeigh contributed to this report.