The Miami Hurricanes got a major boost as transfer quarterback Carson Beck has resumed throwing, marking a key milestone in his recovery from offseason elbow surgery.
After undergoing a procedure to repair the UCL in his throwing arm, Beck has progressed to the point where he’s been cleared to throw regularly – and by all early accounts, he looks ready to roll.
“He looks great,” Miami head coach Mario Cristobal said on the ACC Network. “He has been throwing the ball and it looks normal. Maybe even better than normal.
“It looks like he is just about there and we start our entire team workouts on Monday. We are excited about him and our football team.”
Beck, entering his sixth year of college football, transferred to Miami this offseason after two productive seasons as Georgia’s starting quarterback.
Rather than enter April’s NFL Draft – where he was projected as a late-round pick – Beck opted to return for one final year to improve his stock and compete at a high level. (As well as make a few bucks.)
His decision to join the Hurricanes was largely influenced by Miami’s quarterback-friendly system under offensive coordinator Shannon Dawson, and the presence of one of the nation’s top offensive lines.
“Without it, you have no chance. A great offensive line always gives you a chance. If you have a great quarterback or running back or receiver, you will never get to see them play if they don’t have enough time,” Cristobal added.
“Carson saw that in us and saw the opportunity to be protected and play with some high level skill players. It is a great marriage.”
Beck’s numbers at Georgia speak to his consistency and talent.
Across two seasons, he threw for 7,426 yards, 52 touchdowns, and 18 interceptions, completing 68.4% of his passes while adding five scores on the ground.
He logged 13 games with at least 290 passing yards and led the Bulldogs to a combined 24-3 record – with two narrow losses to Alabama and one to Ole Miss.
However, his production dipped slightly in 2024.
According to Pro Football Focus, Beck earned a passing grade of 80.2 last season, finishing with 3,485 yards, 28 touchdowns, and 12 interceptions – a slight regression from his 90.8 grade and 3,941-yard, 24-touchdown effort in 2023.
Why the drop? … Well, his supporting cast changed dramatically.
Beck’s best season came in 2023 when he had Brock Bowers, a generational tight end who later starred as an NFL rookie, and Ladd McConkey, another future pro.
That year, the Bulldogs’ receivers dropped just 19 catchable passes. In 2024, that number jumped to 31, and Georgia’s top targets were less explosive – Arian Smith (817 yards, 4 TDs) and Dominic Lovett (607 yards, 6 TDs).
The offensive line was also a factor. Georgia’s 2023 unit, anchored by first-round pick Amarius Mims and fifth-rounder Sedrick Van Pran-Granger, allowed only one sack all season and earned a top-10 pass-blocking grade from PFF.
In contrast, the 2024 line gave up 11 sacks.
The backfield took a step back as well, with 400 fewer rushing yards and 10 fewer touchdowns between the top two backs compared to the previous year.
Despite the added pressure and reduced talent, Beck still showed flashes of growth. He increased his “big-time throws” from 17 to 23, but his turnover-worthy plays also spiked – jumping from 11 to 20, as he threw 12 interceptions after just six the year prior.
The strength of schedule also didn’t help.
Georgia’s 2024 slate included future College Football Playoff teams Clemson, Texas (twice), and Tennessee, as well as Alabama and Ole Miss.
Beck went 3-1 against the playoff-bound programs but faced more adversity than the 2023 campaign.
Now healthy and energized for a fresh start, Beck is expected to be Miami’s centerpiece as the Hurricanes aim to make a run in the ACC and beyond.
The countdown is on, with a high-profile season opener against Notre Dame on August 31st. For now, Beck appears on track – and the Hurricanes are hopeful that his health and experience will elevate the offense from day one.
As far as Kirby Smart and the Georgia Bulldogs are concerned, do you think any part of them regrets not fighting harder to keep Beck in Athens???
