Carson Beck feels like he made the right decision.
After his 2024 season with Georgia prematurely ended due to an ulnar collateral ligament (UCL) injury in the SEC championship game, the former Bulldogs quarterback declared for the NFL draft. But less than two weeks later, he decided to skip the pros and enter the transfer portal.
Despite an inconsistent season, Georgia wanted him back, and Alabama was also ready to nab him.
Instead, Beck opted to play with the Hurricanes, and he’s feeling comfortable with the pick.
“This is my future, and I think that this decision is one of the better decisions I’ve made,” Beck said at ACC Kickoff on Tuesday, July 22. “Just trying to develop those relationships and that camaraderie, it’s just reinforced my decision in a positive way.”
A two-year starter at Georgia, Beck started 27 games for the Bulldogs, throwing for 7,426 yards with 57 total touchdowns and 18 interceptions. Head coach Mario Cristobal said Beck has played in “monster” games and played a high level that drew him to bringing the quarterback in.
“Carson has as good of experience as a quarterback as you can have,” Cristobal said.
Beck wasted little time in the transfer portal before deciding to play for Miami. He had a do not contact request and announced his commitment less than 48 hours after hitting the portal. He said the offensive fit is what drew him to Miami, along with offensive coordinator Shannon Dawson and the talent surrounding the team, which has to replace several pieces from the 2024 squad that had the best total offense in the country.
Coincidentally, Beck is replacing Cam Ward, who threw for 4,313 yards last season − second-most in FBS − and was the No. 1 overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft. Despite the big shoes to fill and given his status in college football, Beck said he doesn’t feel much pressure replacing Ward. He mentioned it’s somewhat the same role he stepped in at Georgia.
“Obviously his success is undeniable,” he said. “The last school I was at, I followed up the two-time national champion, so I didn’t really feel any pressure there. It’s a game; I’ve played football my whole life. I’ve played quarterback since I was seven years old, and it’s something that I love to do and I’ve got a lot of good talent around me and really good coaches in position to not only help me not only achieve my goals, but be really successful.”
However, he’s given his teammates the same feeling as Ward. Offensive tackle Francis Mauigoa said his new quarterback is “a very special guy, just like Cam Ward last year.”
“I feel the same energy with Carson Beck,” Mauigoa added.
Carson Beck injury update: Miami QB at 100%
Beck described his spring was “a little slow” as he recovered from injury. But Cristobal confirmed “he’s been cleared” and has been participating in all team workouts for several weeks.
The quarterback said he spent much of the spring in a coaching role and helping out the other signal-callers on the roster. But now that he’s at 100%, the off-season has been “really good and full of good work.”
“Really just looking forward to the opportunity, and again, have the opportunity to go out and play football again. I haven’t done it in a while, so looking forward to it,” Beck said.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Carson Beck: Going to Miami ‘one of the better decisions I’ve made’
