University of Georgia Athletics
Beck ‘In A Good Place’ Entering Final Season
August 29, 2024 | Football, The Frierson Files
By John Frierson
Staff Writer
It is good to be Carson Beck right now.
"I definitely feel like I'm in a good place in my life: mentally, physically, emotionally, all areas. I have no complaints," said the senior, a consensus preseason All-American and the starting quarterback on the No. 1 team in the country heading into Saturday's season opener against No. 14 Clemson.
Beck has long been quick to flash his big smile; he's an affable guy who wants to have fun and put smiles on the faces of those around him — when he's not competing as hard as he can on the field. He has plenty of reasons to be smiling these days: he's projected as a Heisman Trophy contender and to go high in the 2025 NFL Draft; he's a leader on a team that has won 46 of its last 48 games; and things are zooming along well off the field, too. And he's worked very hard to be in the position he's in.
"I think I do a good job of keeping myself in that space of staying grounded. ... I've never been the guy that has ever let things get to my head or thought that I was ever above anybody because of the position I'm in," Beck said. "I'm just super grateful to be in the position I'm in, and I'm just a person that can somehow throw a football."
In 2023, his first season as the Bulldogs' starter, Beck completed 302 of 417 passes for 3,941 yards and 24 touchdowns, with just six interceptions, helping lead Georgia to an undefeated regular season and a 13-1 final record. But he also spent three seasons before that as a backup or backup to the backup.
"Those three years of waiting weren't easy, so I think that brings more ... I appreciate it more because of what I've been through, what I've had to fight through, and waiting," he said. "Understanding what it's like to not play and what it's like to sit and wait and want to be on the field so bad, so now that I am on the field, it brings a level of thankfulness."
Count All-American safety Malaki Starks as thankful and appreciative of Beck's willingness to stick with Georgia and keep competing for his shot at earning the starting job.
"Especially in today's world, it's so easy to get up and leave. It's so easy. I hate it because I think it teaches bad habits," Starks said. "When you (face adversity) in life, you can't just get up and leave. I think that just goes back to the type of person that he is. He stuck around, he waited for his turn, and when it finally came, he was ready. I think that speaks a lot about who he is as a person."
On Saturday, Beck and the top-ranked Bulldogs will open their season against Clemson at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta. Beck said there weren't any specific areas from last season that he felt like he needed to dramatically improve upon in 2024. He just wants to execute at a high level and make good decisions.
"For me, it's just being consistent and making the right play at the right time," he said. "That's where my mindset is at. It's very hard as a defense to stop a quarterback that doesn't make a mistake."
Mike Bobo, Georgia's John and Alice Sands Offensive Coordinator and quarterbacks coach, said early in preseason practice that Beck does a good job of blocking out any outside noise and the things he can't control
"He wrote a bunch of things on our board in our meeting room of what we need to do as a quarterback. Number one was 'Be where your feet are.' You hear that a lot. Here's a guy that had a good season, his first season. There's a lot of noise outside this building about the future, but he can't control that. What he can control is being where his feet are every day," Bobo said.
If you go to Beck's Instagram account, you'll see that he has more than 91,000 followers — and just 12 posts. There are some shots of him from games last season, a post from a round of golf he played at TPC Sawgrass over the summer, and one sponsorship post that went up this week. Those looking for compelling content will have to go elsewhere, and that's how he likes it.
"I don't really do social media too much," he said. "I just stay off of it; social media's not reality, so I like to just stay off of it. My marketing people tell me to be a little bit more active because it is a part of who I am and my brand, but I don't really like it."
"It's never been about that with him," Georgia coach Kirby Smart said of Beck's off-field opportunities and how any disparity between those and his teammates' might go over in the locker room. "He's very humble. He works hard. He's a leader, and the players respect what Carson went through to get where he is. And I think he earned that."
After a long wait, Beck earned his shot last season and was one of the best quarterbacks in college football. Now, despite that success and the opportunities and potential distractions off the field that come with it, he just wants to get back on the field and play ball again.
Staff Writer
It is good to be Carson Beck right now.
"I definitely feel like I'm in a good place in my life: mentally, physically, emotionally, all areas. I have no complaints," said the senior, a consensus preseason All-American and the starting quarterback on the No. 1 team in the country heading into Saturday's season opener against No. 14 Clemson.
Beck has long been quick to flash his big smile; he's an affable guy who wants to have fun and put smiles on the faces of those around him — when he's not competing as hard as he can on the field. He has plenty of reasons to be smiling these days: he's projected as a Heisman Trophy contender and to go high in the 2025 NFL Draft; he's a leader on a team that has won 46 of its last 48 games; and things are zooming along well off the field, too. And he's worked very hard to be in the position he's in.
"I think I do a good job of keeping myself in that space of staying grounded. ... I've never been the guy that has ever let things get to my head or thought that I was ever above anybody because of the position I'm in," Beck said. "I'm just super grateful to be in the position I'm in, and I'm just a person that can somehow throw a football."
In 2023, his first season as the Bulldogs' starter, Beck completed 302 of 417 passes for 3,941 yards and 24 touchdowns, with just six interceptions, helping lead Georgia to an undefeated regular season and a 13-1 final record. But he also spent three seasons before that as a backup or backup to the backup.
"Those three years of waiting weren't easy, so I think that brings more ... I appreciate it more because of what I've been through, what I've had to fight through, and waiting," he said. "Understanding what it's like to not play and what it's like to sit and wait and want to be on the field so bad, so now that I am on the field, it brings a level of thankfulness."
Count All-American safety Malaki Starks as thankful and appreciative of Beck's willingness to stick with Georgia and keep competing for his shot at earning the starting job.
"Especially in today's world, it's so easy to get up and leave. It's so easy. I hate it because I think it teaches bad habits," Starks said. "When you (face adversity) in life, you can't just get up and leave. I think that just goes back to the type of person that he is. He stuck around, he waited for his turn, and when it finally came, he was ready. I think that speaks a lot about who he is as a person."
On Saturday, Beck and the top-ranked Bulldogs will open their season against Clemson at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta. Beck said there weren't any specific areas from last season that he felt like he needed to dramatically improve upon in 2024. He just wants to execute at a high level and make good decisions.
"For me, it's just being consistent and making the right play at the right time," he said. "That's where my mindset is at. It's very hard as a defense to stop a quarterback that doesn't make a mistake."
Mike Bobo, Georgia's John and Alice Sands Offensive Coordinator and quarterbacks coach, said early in preseason practice that Beck does a good job of blocking out any outside noise and the things he can't control
"He wrote a bunch of things on our board in our meeting room of what we need to do as a quarterback. Number one was 'Be where your feet are.' You hear that a lot. Here's a guy that had a good season, his first season. There's a lot of noise outside this building about the future, but he can't control that. What he can control is being where his feet are every day," Bobo said.
If you go to Beck's Instagram account, you'll see that he has more than 91,000 followers — and just 12 posts. There are some shots of him from games last season, a post from a round of golf he played at TPC Sawgrass over the summer, and one sponsorship post that went up this week. Those looking for compelling content will have to go elsewhere, and that's how he likes it.
"I don't really do social media too much," he said. "I just stay off of it; social media's not reality, so I like to just stay off of it. My marketing people tell me to be a little bit more active because it is a part of who I am and my brand, but I don't really like it."
"It's never been about that with him," Georgia coach Kirby Smart said of Beck's off-field opportunities and how any disparity between those and his teammates' might go over in the locker room. "He's very humble. He works hard. He's a leader, and the players respect what Carson went through to get where he is. And I think he earned that."
After a long wait, Beck earned his shot last season and was one of the best quarterbacks in college football. Now, despite that success and the opportunities and potential distractions off the field that come with it, he just wants to get back on the field and play ball again.
Assistant Sports Communications Director John Frierson is the staff writer for the UGA Athletic Association and curator of the ITA Men's Tennis Hall of Fame. You can find his work at: Frierson Files. He's also on Twitter: @FriersonFiles and @ITAHallofFame.
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