Kirby Smart explains expectations for Georgia quarterbacks in fall camp

ATHENS, Ga. — Georgia players reported to fall camp on Wednesday, and with that, head coach Kirby Smart held his opening press conference to the 2023 season. Not surprisingly, the first question he was asked was about the quarterbacks and what he wants to see from the group in preseason practice.

“I want to see them be where their feet are,” Smart said. “I just got finished talking to the team 10 minutes ago and I had three or four older players, fifth year and fourth year players tell the younger players what the expectation for training camp is. That’s exactly what I think about when I think about quarterbacks. To worry about today’s walk through, today’s recovery period, today’s meetings, whatever we’re allowed to have we’re going to have today and the only thing you should worry about is that. Tonight, you can start worrying about tomorrow.”

“For those quarterbacks, it’s not to overwhelm themselves with results, it’s to overwhelm themselves with the process of getting better,” he continued. “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 Beck is considered to be the favorite to take over the starting job as Georgia comes into the fall. A fourth-year player who’s gotten the most experience out of the group backing up Stetson Bennett last season, Beck put together a strong spring and an especially impressive performance on G-Day as he threw for 211 yards and a touchdown on 13-of-18 passing with the first team.

In live action, Beck has seen action in 12 total games. Over the course of his first two years on campus, he played in five. This past year though, Beck entered in seven and was given opportunities to run Georgia’s offense. In doing so, he completed 26 of his 35 attempts for 310 yards and four touchdowns.

“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,” Smart said about Beck, a description that would seem to fit what he wants to see out of the quarterbacks over the course of fall camp.

“He understands his job. He’s very intelligent. 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,” he added. “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.” 

Beck isn’t the only one that’ll get reps though as Georgia goes about figuring out who the best replacement for Bennett is. As Smart noted, Brock Vandagriff and Gunner Stockton are also in the thick of things when it comes to the competition and will have their fair on opportunities to show the coaches what they bring to the table.

Vandagriff, a former five-star who’s been on campus for two seasons, has appeared in five career contests. He has yet to complete a pass on just three attempts while the only time he put his running ability to the test went for a seven-yard gain. Meanwhile, Stockton did not appear in a game at all over the course of his first year on campus. This past spring, Vandagriff went a combined 13-for-25 for 175 yards and two touchdowns with an interception – working with both the first and second teams – while Stockton – entirely with the backups – was 13-of-22 for 144 yards with an interception.

Georgia holds its first practice of fall camp on Thursday morning, just 30 days away from kickoff to the 2023 season. The Bulldogs host UT-Martin at Sanford Stadium on September 2nd at 6:00 p.m. ET.