Former UGA QB Carson Beck says 'Georgia will always be family to me'

USA Today

4 days ago

When former Georgia Bulldogs quarterback Carson Beck was asked about his time at Georgia during the ACC media days, a smile appeared on his face. Beck appeared gratuitous towards his time at Georgia, despite him transferring to the Miami Hurricanes.
At first, he starts with a reflection to the SEC media days in 2024. 'We go back 365 days we were sitting at the SEC media days with all these expectations,' Beck said. 'It's crazy, there's twists and turns you can't foresee."
Georgia fans definitely couldn't have predicted the twists and turns that occurred in 2024. About a year ago, he was projected to be one of the best quarterbacks in the count and was among the favorites to win the Heisman and earn the No. 1 overall selection in the 2025 NFL draft.
Even through Beck didn't live up to those expectation, he still had a landmark career at Georgia, bringing the Bulldogs to a 24-3 record and winning winning two national championships as a backup. Beck's final game featured one-armed snap and handoff to Trevor Etienne for the game-winning touchdown in the SEC championship against Texas after Beck had suffered a serious elbow injury.
Beck still remembers his time with Georgia fondly.
'Georgia will always be family to me, you grind with those guys,' Beck said. 'I came in as an 18-year-old kid, I was a child with no idea of what was ahead. You build relationships that will last a lifetime, you work your tail off."
'I wouldn't be the person or player I am today without Georgia, and I'll always be a Bulldog, I am very appreciative of my time there," Beck said.
Beck has several amazing memories of his time at Georgia, but he remembers the Georgia-Georgia Tech matchup as the most emotional one.
'The eight-overtime thriller against Georgia Tech, that will be one I'll remember my entire life,' Beck said. 'I remember after that game I literally fell into Mike Bobo's arms."
'He (Bobo) walked out of the locker room, and I was walking in, and I fell into his arms and I said 'I don't know what just happened, the emotions were insane.''
Now at Miami, Beck has some pressure to live up to how Cam Ward played last season. Ward became a finalist for the Heisman and was selected No. 1 overall in the 2025 NFL draft. Beck is doing a good job of blocking the noise, though.
'I feel like there's pressure in any situation, but do I feel the pressure? I really don't, having played at Georgia and having to follow a two-time national champion,' Beck said. 'That's the most pressure you can have. I think in the SEC, the fan bases are insane, and when you look at Miami's culture, it's going to be something similar."
'I am sure that first game with Notre Dame will be packed out," Beck said. Miami opens in Week 1 against Notre Dame on Aug. 31.
For reference, Notre Dame was the team that eliminated Georgia in the 2024 College Football Playoff. Carson Beck was out due to injury in that game, bringing about one of the biggest what ifs in Georgia's recent history.