Carson Beck’s Areas for Improvement from Last Season
Georgia quarterback Carson Beck had an impressive first season as a starting quarterback and is now a Heisman favorite for 2025. However, Head Coach Kirby Smart sees areas for improvement, particularly in leadership.
Smart discussed last week how Beck can elevate his performance as he prepares for his senior season. He emphasized that Beck needs to step up his leadership, something he was more hesitant about in his first year as a starter.
“[Carson can elevate] his leadership of the wideouts and the offense. He was in complete command of it [last year], but there were times I think he knows that he could say, ‘You know what, I can step up and be a bigger voice and a bigger leader,'” Smart said. “We had a lot of veteran players on that offense that had played a lot more than him. Now we don’t. He is the veteran that has played the most and has the most command. He’ll do a good job doing that.”
Beck’s first season saw him post a 72.4% completion rate, throwing for 3,941 yards, 24 touchdowns, and just 6 interceptions. He set a program record for completion percentage, had the second-most passing yards in a season, and achieved the fourth-best passer rating in program history.
Despite a strong season, Beck and the Bulldogs suffered a 27-24 loss to Alabama in the SEC Championship game. Beck completed 21-of-29 passes for 243 yards with no touchdowns or interceptions. They bounced back in the Orange Bowl, with Beck throwing for 203 yards and 2 touchdowns in a 63-3 victory over Florida State.
Beck acknowledged his need to be more vocal and comfortable in his leadership role. “I’m super comfortable leading and talking and kind of guiding guys in the right direction because I’ve done it,” Beck said on March 12. “I think that people respect me now that I have done it. I think that was kind of the thing that held me back from being a little more vocal last year or being a bigger leader last year. I hadn’t really done it yet, so now that I have a year under my belt and guys look at me and respect me, it’s a lot easier to maybe tell someone to do something and try to guide them the right way.”
Smart’s push for Beck to enhance his leadership is crucial given the departure of eight starters from the 2023 offense, including key players like running backs Daijun Edwards and Kendall Milton, wide receivers Ladd McConkey and Marcus Rosemy-Jacksaint, and tight end Brock Bowers.
With high expectations for 2024, Georgia is the national championship favorite, and Beck is among the top candidates for the Heisman Trophy. The Bulldogs will kick off their season on August 31 against Clemson.
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