Mike Bobo excited by approach of Georgia backup quarterbacks
ATHENS, Ga. — This time last year, Carson Beck and Brock Vandagriff were still battling for Georgia’s starting spot at quarterback. It wasn’t until after the second scrimmage that head coach Kirby Smart announced Beck as UGA’s QB1.
A year later, things are settled at the top with Beck returning for his second season as the starter, and it’s the backup quarterbacks that intrigue.
While Vandagriff hit the portal and transferred to Kentucky – where he’ll likely start against Georgia on September 14th – the Bulldogs managed to hold onto Gunner Stockton. He impressed in the Orange Bowl with an extended opportunity, completing six passes for 96 yards and two touchdowns, also adding 46 yards on the ground using his mobility. Then, they went out and added Arizona State transfer Jaden Rashada to a room that was already bringing in four-star freshman Ryan Puglisi. So, while offensive coordinator/quarterbacks coach Mike Bobo and the Georgia staff won’t have to figure out who takes the first snap, they’ve certainly got their hands full trying to develop for the future.
“The quarterback position, how Jaden came about, Coach is on record that we wanted four scholarship quarterbacks. We were looking for a fourth scholarship quarterback. Because of the portal, we were able to get Jaden,” Bobo said. “We’d loved to have gotten Jaden in here before spring. It didn’t work out that way, but he was able to get here early May and start trying to learn the playbook. He’s in the process of learning it now. All those guys are doing an outstanding job every day of coming in and controlling what they can control.”
Controlling what they can control is a great approach for a backup quarterback. It’s the best way to get better. One thing they can’t control though is when their opportunities will come. Oftentimes it takes the starter securing a win and getting the game in hand to open the door for the backups to see the field. It’s likely that Beck and the Bulldog offense will do that several times this season, but the starting quarterback is making sure his teammates are ready whenever their number is called.
“Carson made a great statement in our first meeting, tried to set the tone,” Bobo told reporters. “He said, ‘I want to say something to you guys. You need to take this camp like you’re getting ready to play Clemson the first game. I didn’t do that when I was young. I wasn’t taking advantage of every opportunity to get ready to be the starter.’ That’s an easy thing to say rather than do.:
“I’ve been saying it for 27 years coaching quarterbacks. You’re getting ready to play,” he added. “Your opportunity’s every practice. But then Carson to step up and say that in a meeting and stop me mid-meeting and say that to those young quarterbacks, hey guys, you’re getting ready to play Clemson in that first game. That’s how you should approach it. Those guys have done a great job of that this camp. They’re doing a great job of preparing every day and going out there and learning from their mistakes and learning from the things that they do well.”
Georgia opens the season against Clemson, ranked No. 14 in the nation according to both the AP and Coaches polls. It’s not likely that the Bulldog backups will see the field August 31st (12:00 p.m. ET, ABC), however, an opportunity could arise at any moment. That’s why Beck wants them to be ready. He remembers how he wasn’t when his number was called ahead of UAB in Week Two of the 2021 season. It led to two more seasons on the bench. Now, solidified in a starting spot, he’s hopeful his teammates can learn from his mistake and be prepared to play whenever that time comes.
