Georgia QB Carson Beck preparing at 'elite' level for Orange Bowl
FT. LAUDERDALE, Fla. — When thinking about the 2024 season, Georgia got arguably the best news it could have possibly gotten earlier this month. Carson Beck announced that he was not yet ready to end his Bulldog career and that he would be back for his fifth season with the program.
That announcement garnered the expected reaction. The UGA faithful were fired up because next year’s slate is about as tough as it gets. National Media immediately began talking up Georgia’s prospects for the 2024 season. Meanwhile, Beck, after an impressive first season as the starter, has managed to continue turning heads as he prepares for Florida State in the Orange Bowl.
“I think Carson Beck has had an unbelievable bowl prep,” Georgia tight ends coach and special teams coordinator Todd Hartley said on Wednesday when prompted to name a player who has stood out during the practices leading up to the team’s arrival in Miami. “Just some of the things he’s done in practice, some of the throws he’s made. Everybody knows he’s a very talented passer of the football but some of throws he’s made this bowl camp has been like, wow, this dude’s elite man.”
Beck made plenty of those throws referenced by Hartley in games this season. He has all but locked up the UGA single-season record for completion percentage. Beck is the first Georgia quarterback in almost 30 years, since Eric Zeier in 1994, to average more than 285 yards passing in a season. There’s an outside shot that, with a career game against FSU, Beck can set the single-season record for passing yards in a season.
The fact that he’s coming back for the 2024 season is a massive boost for the Bulldogs’ chances of contending for another National Championship. The fact that he’s finding a way to stand out as Georgia prepares for what so many people consider as a meaningless game makes it even more impressive.
It shows a level of consistency that Kirby Smart appreciates. It’s something that speaks to his teammates and certainly gets their attention as they, too, work to try and put themselves in the best position possible to finish the season with a 13-0 record.
“Carson is elite, a really good quarterback,” junior cornerback Kamari Lassiter said. “The offense runs through him very well. I’m excited to see him come back and see what he can do next year. Carson is my guy. Carson is always laser-focused, the same guy all the time, even-keeled. I mean, he’s always locked in despite the circumstances. Just to see that from him doesn’t really surprise me because that’s just who he is.”
