ATHENS — Carson Beck sat at a table in Miami a little more than a year ago, talking about why he opted to return for another season at Georgia. There had been rumors and stories about money being the main factor, and it’s not to say it wasn’t a consideration. But as he sat there, Beck pointed to a simple reason: He wanted to play.
“I waited three years, didn’t play, and obviously, I’ve gotten the opportunity to play this season, and it’s fun,” Beck said days before Georgia finished its season with a win in the Orange Bowl. “It’s a lot more fun to be on the field than not being on the field. So knowing I get another opportunity to come back and play another year at the University of Georgia, it’s going to be a lot of fun and enjoyable.”
Fun and enjoyable? Maybe off the field. Maybe at times on the field. But in the end, Beck’s fifth season at Georgia, what all assumed was his last in college before going to the NFL, left plenty wanting. This week, Beck made a cold-blooded business decision: He deleted his Instagram post from two weeks ago declaring for the NFL draft, and his camp confirmed to multiple outlets, including The Athletic, that he would be entering the transfer portal.
Coming back to college. But not coming back to Georgia. It’s quite the plot twist, and if it holds, it puts Beck and Georgia on opposite ends of a big 2025 storyline.
For Beck, this would be betting on himself. It comes with risks, as elbow surgery leaves him unlikely to do much at spring practice for another program, and he would have to get to know his new teammates and coaches in meeting rooms before doing much on the field. But it’s a risk he’s exploring.
For Georgia, the optics may be bad, but it’s more about timing: Georgia always assumed Beck was turning pro, as did Beck. By the time he decided one more year in college may be worth it — whether it was what he was hearing from NFL teams or what he thought he could get on the transfer market — Georgia had moved on. It had allocated name, image and likeness resources elsewhere, had seen Gunner Stockton throw the ball pretty well in the Sugar Bowl, and ultimately was not willing to come close to what Beck could earn from a team more desperate for a quarterback.
Gunner Stockton, left, made his first start for Kirby Smart and Georgia in the Sugar Bowl. (Perry McIntyre / ISI Photos / Getty Images)
That’s not to sugarcoat this news for Georgia. Undoubtedly, it creates more pressure on the team, the offense and three people in particular:
• Stockton, who has to play well enough, not necessarily in the stat department but in the wins. This assumes he’s the starter, rather than Ryan Puglisi or a transfer not currently in the portal. Stockton looked capable in throwing the ball against Notre Dame and good in running against Texas, and coaches and teammates love his intangibles. But his game management needs to improve, and he will now be compared to what Beck does or would have done.
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• Mike Bobo, who is in a prove-it year as the offensive coordinator and play caller. He had a great first year back at Georgia in 2023, guiding the nation’s fifth-ranked offense, being a finalist for the Broyles Award and coaching Beck into consideration for the Heisman Trophy and the No. 1 overall pick. But this season was definitely a step back for the entire offense, mostly the running game, and Beck’s regression is something Bobo wears, fair or not.
• And finally Kirby Smart, whose judgment on picking the right quarterback and coordinator will be monitored. These were questions pre-2021 for Smart, who seemed to quiet everyone with how Stetson Bennett turned out and by letting Todd Monken do his thing with the offense. By earning two national championships, Smart earned credibility. That won’t stop the criticism if next year’s offense is a dud.
Once more for emphasis: There is a chance Beck still turns pro. He may not like his transfer options, and this is not considered a strong draft for quarterbacks. But the fact that Beck is even exploring his college options creates pressure for his now-former team. If things go downhill, there will be a time when the world wonders why Georgia didn’t do everything in its power to bring Beck back.
There’s also plenty of reason for hope. Georgia just signed two transfer receivers, Zachariah Branch for the slot and Noah Thomas for the outside “X” spot, with Dillon Bell returning for his senior year and moving to his more natural position. Tight end Oscar Delp returning to the team with Lawson Luckie would be big, along with rising sophomore Jaden Reddell and 6-foot-7 freshman Elyiss Williams.
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The bigger concerns are the offensive line and the running game. The blocking wasn’t good this year, and now the line is losing four starters, including all three interior linemen. There are some good players with some experience coming behind them, but it’s largely a reset on the line, which doesn’t usually bode well.
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But a reason for optimism: Tailback Trevor Etienne returning, if he does, would mean a dynamic tandem with Nate Frazier, and Etienne passing on the NFL — where he’s projected as a mid-round pick — would be a vote of confidence in the blocking he expects next year.
On paper, this could be a good offense. But a lot has to go well. Hope is not a plan. There was always going to be immense pressure on the Georgia offense next year. Now its starting quarterback from the past two years appears to have ratcheted it up.
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