Georgia head coach Kirby Smart just dropped big news regarding battle for QB1

Georgia's battle for a new QB1 is absolutely one of the biggest storylines of this college football offseason. It's going to be tough for anyone to replace two-time national champion quarterback Stetson Bennett at Georgia, but someone is going to have to try.

In that regard, head coach Kirby Smart has dropped some massive news. It's still early and no definitive starter has been named yet, but it does sound like junior Carson Beck has an edge.

"He's certainly the leader, but hasn't done enough to say he's the starter," Smart recently said, per ESPN.

In terms of evaluation and feeling confident in naming Beck — or one of teammates -- the starter, Smart seems to think he'll have a better idea one way or the other after UGA's second preseason scrimmage.

"We'll know when they go against the defense and they've got 10 third downs in a row and we're blitzing the hell out of them," Smart said. "We'll find out then because they've got to go against competition."

Checking in at 6-foot-4, 215 pounds, Beck is competing with redshirt sophomore Brock Vandagriff and redshirt freshman Gunner Stockton. Vandagriff was ranked as a 5-star recruit as part of Georgia's 2021 class. Stockton — who sounds like he was named specifically to become an SEC quarterback — was a 4-star in 2022.

Beck was Bennett's backup last season but as a result of backing up the accomplished college quarterback, he has very little experience. He has only 58 career passes for 483 yards, six touchdowns and two interceptions.    For what it's worth, though, Smart does have a high opinion of Beck. 

"There was a time when the coaching staff had Beck in front of Bennett, so we inherited a pretty good quarterback if we thought this guy was better than Stetson Bennett," Smart explained. "People forget that, but there was a leapfrog in there and Stetson ended up being the best guy and it turned out to be the right decision."

Whether it's Beck, Vandagriff or Stockton, there will be high expectations for whichever quarterback ends up replacing Bennett.