Georgia head coach Kirby Smart did something notable last week when he named junior Carson Beck as the Bulldogs’ starting quarterback. Smart is known for keeping quarterback decisions close to the chest, but Beck has done enough this offseason to make the choice clear.
“That rep volume is kind of the separator,” Smart said on Saturday. “He’s had the ability to understand when the defense is doing this, or they’re in this, I need the answer. He’s had good answers.”
Senior ESPN writer Mark Schlabach not only predicts the Dawgs to win the SEC, but also sees tight end Brock Bowers earning SEC Offensive Player of the Year honors and Beck earning a trip to New York as a Heisman finalist.
“Beck attempted only 35 passes as a backup last season, and he has the unenviable task of replacing Stetson Bennett, who led the Bulldogs to consecutive national championships,” Schlabach writes. “While Beck lacks Bennett’s mobility, he does have a stronger arm. He’s also going to benefit from something Bennett didn’t have: a deep and talented receiver corps. Mississippi State Bulldogs transfer Rara Thomas and Missouri Tigers transfer Dominic Lovett give Beck two more options to go with Ladd McConkey, Bowers and others.”
Beck’s supporting cast is worth noting. Schlabach didn’t mention the depth the Bulldogs have returning up front in starters Sedrick Van Pran, Tate Rateldge and Xavier Truss.
The protection will be there, along with a wealth of weapons to choose from to ease Beck’s transition into his new role.
