What Was Said: Georgia starting quarterback Carson Beck

ATHENS, Ga. — Fresh off being named Georgia’s starting quarterback on Saturday, Carson Beck took the podium for media on Wednesday. Beck isn’t backing down from the pressure that comes with the role. He knows he doesn’t have the experience but believes he’s got what it takes to get the job done.

DawgsHQ was there to hear Beck share. Here’s everything that he said on Wednesday, 10 days before his first collegiate start.

Carson Beck on why he stayed at UGA…

“My answer to that is the camaraderie that we have, the connection that we have here at the University of Georgia. It’s unmatched to other places. Obviously, I can’t compare it because I haven’t been anywhere else. From things that I’ve heard from people that have been other places is that the connection here, we strive to have. I think that’s one of the biggest things that kept me here all these years.”

Beck on the time since his last start…

“That’s crazy. Obviously it has been a long time, I felt like it’s been even longer than it actually has been. It’s been almost four years since I started in a football game. Obviously I’m really excited so I’m looking forward to it.” 

Beck on how he played these last few weeks…

“I think I’ve performed well. I think there’s always room for improvement. You can never be perfect, especially as a quarterback. Biggest thing I’ve tried to improve on is third downs. Just being consistent. Being efficient, obviously our defense throws a lot at us so we get a lot better as an offense. That’s one of the biggest things I’ve been working on.”

Carson Beck on how the conversation with Kirby went on being named the starter…

“Like you said, the conversation was very simple, very straightforward. He told us all what was going to happen. I don’t think it’s going to change much in my mindset. I think we’ve all performed well in fall camp. It is good to know you’re the guy but it doesn’t change my approach towards practice or my approach towards film or anything like that. It’s all maintained the same.”

Beck on being named the starter…

“Obviously, it means a lot. I’ve put in a lot of time, work, effort. I’ve been grinding the past four years and to finally see that come into fruition and pay off, it’s a really exciting time.”

Beck on beating out Gunner and Brock…

“I don’t think any of us ever looked at it as a competition. I think each and every one of us were focused on doing what we could do to improve individually. And ultimately, the coaches were going to put who they thought should be out there.”

Carson Beck on his conversation with Warren Brinson, claiming he wants his own championship…

“Obviously it’s different to be a part of a national championship team and actually win a national championship. When I was in high school, we won the state championship and I was the guy at that time. That’s an amazing feeling. I haven’t done that in a long time. Hopefully, I can replicate that but that’s kind of what that means. There’s a difference between being a part and winning your own.”

Beck on if he feels pressure…

“I definitely embrace it. Kirby makes it super challenging in practice. He applies pressure every single day, our defense applies pressure. Obviously there’s pressure, there’s always going to be pressure. I think we do a good job of putting ourselves in situations where once we do get out on the field, it’s just another day at practice. It makes it easier.”

Beck on why he cut his hair… 

“It has been super hot outside. The past two summers I had long hair so I was dying during team runs and stuff. It was way too hot for hair. I decided to shave it off to make life a little easier.”

Carson Beck on the Georgia offensive line…

“They’re incredible. It instill confidence in my to be able to sit back there and maybe I can hold the ball half a second or a second longer and get through my entire reads because I have trust in them to get the job done. Obviously it makes it easy when you have one of the best offensive lines in the country to be able to hand the ball off and let your running backs go to work as well.”

Beck on what’s been key to his development without reps…

“I guess without getting a lot of reps the biggest thing becomes the mental side. As hard as it was and as hard as it can be to be the backup but still prepare like you’re the starter, like you’re going to go out there, it’s something I tried to do week in and week out no matter the opponent. My mental is already kind of set, so I know what that looks like to prepare as a starter even though I haven’t obviously started yet.”

Beck on how much pressure he feels…

“I think each and every one of us has our own pressures and pressures to fulfill. The only thing I can do is try to be myself every day and try to win each and every single day. We’ve got practice today, and I’m going to focus on the reps of each individual play and see what I can do the best. We’ll move on to the next day and the next day from here on out.”

Carson Beck on how close he was to transferring…

“There’s always thoughts whenever you’re a freshman, sophomore when things get hard. Workouts are hard, practices are hard, you’re not getting much playing time and reps. But no, there was never really a time of ‘I’m leaving. I’m getting out of here.”

Beck on what his biggest takeaway watching Stetson was…

“The biggest takeaway from him, he got it the worst at quarterback. A lot of people really hated on him a lot. You can see that all over the internet. He just maintained and kept his head down, kept going. I’d say that’s the biggest thing I learned from him. You just have to do you, be you and honestly, it doesn’t really matter about the noise going on around you as long as you control your actions and effort towards the game.”

Beck on confidence in the RB room…

“I have ultimate confidence in every position group. I trust Coach Smart, Coach Bobo, Coach Schumann on the defensive side to put the best guys out there that are going to help us win and compete and ultimately succeed at the end of the day.”

Carson Beck on who he’s heard from since he was named starter…

“There were a few guys who reached out. Obviously people back home, friends from high school and whatnot. My phone was blowing up. There were a lot of congratulations and stuff. A lot of people that know me and have known how hard I’ve worked and how patient I’ve had to be to get to this point and the work that I’ve had to put in. People were very congratulatory, and I’m excited about it.”

Beck on if there’s been a moment it hit him he’s QB1 at Georgia…

“This whole entire year I’ve been working for it, grinding for it, and I kind of expected that for myself. But to actually hear it go live, it meant a lot to me. It’s something to see all the hard work pay off. Like I’ve been saying this whole time, sometimes it’s hard to be patient in a world where everything’s so immediate with social media and the internet. Everybody wants stuff now, but seeing that patience pay off hit home for me.”