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Carson Beck named Georgia starting quarterback after second scrimmage

Palmber-Thombsby:Palmer Thombs•08/19/23•

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Georgia quarterback Carson Beck
(Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports)

ATHENS, Ga. — Georgia held its second scrimmage of the fall on Saturday, and afterwards, head coach Kirby Smart made a strong statement on the Bulldog quarterback situation. Fourth-year junior Carson Beck reportedly took all the reps with the first-team and looked impressive. Afterwards, Smart announced Beck as the team’s starting quarterback.

Beck beat out third-year Brock Vandagriff and second-year Gunner Stockton for the job, a battle that has taken place since the end of last season following the departure of Stetson Bennett.

Smart says the message was communicated to Georgia’s quarterbacks earlier in the week but did not have any plans for a second-string quarterback.

Beck has 12 career appearances to his name including seven last season as backup to Bennett. He completed 26 of 35 passes for 310 yards and four touchdowns. Maybe more importantly, he did not throw any interceptions after having two in 2021.

Beck was also impressive in Georgia’s G-Day spring game this year. He ran with the first team for the entirety of the first half while Vandagriff and Stockton split reps with the twos, throwing for 211 yards and a touchdown on 13-of-18 passing in that action.

Georgia head coach Kirby Smart explained his expectations for the quarterbacks at the start of fall camp. He wanted to see them not overwhelm themselves with results, rather “overwhelm themselves with the process of getting better.”

“They’re going to get a lot of reps in the next 25 practices. They’re going to get a chance to compete in the next 25 practices. Each one of them has things that they need to work on, but for the whole, I want to see them manage the offense, understand the offense, get people lined up and execute. The guy that does that best in the critical situations will be the guy that becomes the quarterback.”

“Carson is a very even-keeled individual. He’s been that way ever since we recruited him, all the way back in his 11th grade year. He’s not a highs and lows, he’s not a real emotional guy. He’s not a real fiery guy. He’s very laid back. He understands his job. He’s very intelligent,” Smart added on a separate occasion, asked about Beck’s leadership style. “Every leader has their own way. He certainly commands the room. I think the players around him understand how bright he is and they trust him. Carson’s had a lot of reps and a lot of work, which hasn’t all been game reps. He’s had a huge mass of reps against a good defense, against a really good defense in ours. His leadership method’s kind of still being developed. It’s no different than Gunner and Brock. They each one have different ways about them. That’s true with the guy that just left, too.”

Georgia, who was voted No. 1 in both the preseason polls by the AP and Coaches, hosts UT-Martin in the season opener on September 2nd. From there it’s Ball State in the second week before SEC play begins on September 16th against South Carolina.

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