‘Damaged Goods’ Label on Carson Beck Draws Serious Pushback

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Matt De Lima | Last updated Jun 23, 2025 2:23 PM ET

Perhaps expectations were too high for the 2024 Georgia Bulldogs and, by extension, quarterback Carson Beck. The Bulldogs won national championships as recently as the 2021 and 2022 seasons.

Georgia lost two top talents that contributed to those titles in wide receiver Ladd McConkey and tight end Brock Bowers to the NFL draft.

So when Beck was designated as out for the season with an elbow injury ahead of Georgia's College Football Playoff quarterfinal game against the Notre Dame Fighting Irish, the 23-year-old signal-caller was quickly cast aside. Beck was downgraded in the mind of the public, perhaps unfairly, after he decided to transfer to the University of Miami Hurricanes.

One such example came from former Georgia quarterback David Pollack, who earlier this offseason said Beck was "damaged goods."

However, On3's J.D. PicKell isn't buying it and communicated the disconnect during his "Hard Count" podcast.

I don’t buy the idea that Carson Beck got worse at football

Here’s why:https://t.co/Yn05ORzoSO pic.twitter.com/27qnpSJj0G
— J.D. PicKell (@jdpickell) June 21, 2025

"I choose to believe that Carson Beck over the course of one season at Georgia, playing another year as a starting quarterback in Athens," said PicKell. "I don't think he just got worse at football over the course of one year. I don't. I think it's probably more likely that without a running game, and without Brock Bowers, and without Ladd McConkey, he had less success."

In 2023, Beck completed 72.4% of his throws and passed for 3,941 yards, 24 touchdowns and six interceptions. In 2024, his numbers dipped in some stats as he completed 64.7% of his passes and threw for 3,485 yards, 28 touchdowns and 12 interceptions.

"Georgia still won the SEC," PicKell continued. "It wasn't like Carson Beck just fell flat on his face as the quarterback out there. So the idea that Miami is getting 'damaged goods' in Carson Beck or he's not gonna be all that or whatever. I'm telling you, I think there's a reason why NFL scouts a year ago said this dude could be the first pick in the NFL draft."

In January, Beck announced his decision to transfer to the Miami Hurricanes. He will take over for Cam Ward, who was the No. 1 overall pick in the 2024 NFL draft.

Beck, standing at 6-foot-4 and 230 pounds, is the second-highest ranked player in On3's NIL (name, image and likeness) 100 with a $4.3 million valuation.

Beck and the Hurricanes face a tough test to begin the 2025 season as Miami will host Notre Dame on Aug. 31 at 7:30 p.m. ET.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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