You can hardly say the words “best quarterback in the 2025 NFL Draft” without Georgia signal-caller Carson Beck’s name being immediately brought up in conversation.
But it wasn’t always that way. Despite being a highly-touted recruit, Beck was at one time relatively unknown throughout the college football world because of the fact he held the clipboard behind JT Daniels and Stetson Bennett.
“For me, obviously this is my fifth year coming up, so being at the University of Georgia for four-and-a-half years now, it’s been a long journey and it hasn’t always been super easy,” Beck told reporters at 2024 SEC Media Days. “Those first three years were really tough, especially getting a little scrap time — getting playing time, but it wasn’t real playing time. But obviously I knew that one day I was going to get that opportunity, and I think that’s what helped me stay and helped me to continue to compete and try to get better each and every day and just keep progressing because I knew when I got that opportunity I just wanted to be ready.”
Beck seemed to have the notion that 2021 might just be his year, but when Daniels went down with an injury after the Clemson game, it was Bennett instead who was selected to take his place.
“I don’t really remember. That’s so long ago but in my head, I was the backup. That’s what was assumed,” Beck said. “I don’t know if it was ever verbalized. The way the reps went, that’s how it was. I was going to get reps with the ones every now and then, I was getting mixed in … That Friday before the game, I was told it wasn’t me. I thought it was me before then. It was tough, really tough.”
Bennett took full control of the chance that was given to him, ultimately surpassing not only Beck, but Daniels, who was at one time projected to be a Heisman Trophy winner and a first-round draft pick, as well. Bennett wrote arguably the best comeback story in college football history, winning back-to-back national championships before becoming a fourth-round NFL Draft selection.
But when he went on, Beck turned heads as he splashed on the scene in his first year as the Georgia starter at quarterback, finishing out with over a 72% completion rate, passing for 3,941 yards with a 24-to-6 touchdown-to-interception ratio. He also rushed for for 116 yards and 4 touchdowns.
Now, as a possible No. 1 overall draft pick heading into the 2024 season, Beck’s intentions could not be more clear.
“There are expectations from everyone but my expectations that I hold for myself are higher than any person could ever put on me.”
I’m my biggest critic so anything anybody could ever say would never hurt me because I promise I’ve probably said something worse to myself. I think the biggest thing is staying focused on the team and what the ultimate goal is, winning that National Championship.”
