The Miami Hurricanes’ acquisition of former Georgia quarterback Carson Beck has sparked controversy, with Hall of Famer Shannon Sharpe among the most vocal critics.
While the announcement of Beck’s transfer to Miami stirred excitement among college football fans, Sharpe questioned the wisdom of the reported $4 million NIL deal that it reportedly took to secure his commitment.
Sharpe, speaking on his “Nightcap” YouTube show, expressed skepticism about Beck’s potential impact and criticized what he sees as reckless spending in the NIL era.
“[Carson Beck is] a turnover machine,” Sharpe said. “Did [Miami] not see him last year? I’m being very truthful… If they giving him money like that, hey, I’m about to have another kid. You could be some butt sauce and get a million [and] halfway good to get two and a half [million].”
Sharpe’s co-host, Chad Ochocinco, also weighed in, questioning Beck’s credentials and suggesting his past success was largely due to Georgia’s dominant roster.
Beck, who announced his transfer decision shortly after Georgia’s College Football Playoff loss to Notre Dame, is entering a new chapter in Miami, where his girlfriend Hanna Cavinder currently plays for the women’s basketball team.
Despite being regarded as a top NFL prospect at the start of 2024, Beck’s season did not live up to it’s sky-high expectations.
He ended the year with 28 touchdown passes but also threw a career-high 12 interceptions, leading some to question Miami’s decision to offer such a lucrative NIL package.
Of course, Beck’s deal with Miami is just a sign of the times in college football. However, Sharpe – and many others – feel that’s not a good thing for the overall health of the sport.
Miami head coach Mario Cristobal, entering his fourth season with the Hurricanes, has made a habit of targeting quarterbacks in the transfer portal.
Beck will succeed Cam Ward, who transferred to Miami in 2024 and guided the team to a 10-3 record while throwing for over 4,300 yards.
There were reports that Cristobal and company explored the possibility of pursuing Texas quarterback Quinn Ewers – among others – before deciding to go all-in on Beck.
The decision to invest heavily in Beck is a gamble that could either elevate Miami’s program or backfire spectacularly.
Sharpe, however, remains unconvinced that Beck can be a truly elite quarterback.
What are your thoughts on the alleged $4 million NIL deal that it took to secure Beck’s commitment?
In the bigger picture, where do you stand on the overall issue of NIL and the transfer portal in college football???
