Can Carson Beck Lead Georgia To A Three-Peat?
Kirby Smart told Stetson Bennett he had to leave for a reason. Redshirt junior Carson Beck is set to take over for Georgia heading into the 2023-24 season. The only problem is the bar at Georgia is now three-peat or bust. If Beck falls short, will people unfairly call him a failure?
Beck, 20, was an Elite 11 finalist in 2019, the year CJ Stroud won the event. Beck didn’t exactly kill it at the Elite 11 but you saw all the reasons why he was listed as a four star recruit. 6-foot-4, pretty good arm, and is mobile for his size. Georgia’s new quarterback saw limited action in four games last year including the National Title game against TCU. Yes, Georgia was already dominating when Beck entered each of those games. However, 26-35, 74.4%, 310 yards, four touchdowns, and no interceptions tell a lot of the story. Beck’s performance last year should give Georgia fans a lot of confidence heading into this year.
Yes, Georgia still has a lot of talent returning to school. Still, Beck will be expected to keep the Dawgs on top. Nick Saban is pissed and wants revenge. LSU under Brian Kelly is storming on the scene. Tennessee will be damn good again too. Auburn will improve simply by having Hugh Freeze on the sidelines. Not to mention Lane Kiffin has Ole Miss heading in the right direction. It’s a loaded conference. One bad week by Beck could end the season before the Dawgs even get a chance to repeat.
In terms of expectations, I think Georgia fans should feel cautiously optimistic. Bennett was a Heisman finalist after all. It’s not going to be easy to repeat. Oh, and Todd Monken is also gone. So is AD Mitchell. The cards may be stacked against Beck in terms of expectations. However, I believe there is real talent here. Don’t be surprised if Georgia has another banger season on the heels of Beck proving to be an NFL caliber quarterback.
