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Mario Cristobal Discloses Behind-the-Scenes Details of Carson Beck’s $4M Miami Move

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Jaron Spor | Last updated May 19, 2025 6:00 PM ET

Carson Beck's decision not to declare for the 2025 NFL draft and instead leave the Georgia Bulldogs for the Miami Hurricanes surprised many during the offseason.

Beck initially entered the draft after the Bulldogs lost to the Notre Dame Fighting Irish 23-10 in the quarterfinals of the College Football Playoff. He did not play in that game due to an injury sustained in the first half of the SEC Championship game against the Texas Longhorns.

However, nearly two weeks later, Beck opted to enter the transfer portal rather than pursue the NFL draft. He quickly chose the Miami Hurricanes as his new team. Head coach Mario Cristobal discussed the negotiations that led to Beck joining the Hurricanes, reportedly involving NIL deals worth $3 million-$4 million on "Josh Pate's College Football Show."

"The very first one is, can we actually have a conversation?" Cristobal said. "Because if we can't even like connect on a very simple, superficial basis, it might be harder to connect on a deeper level and go from there. Everything at first is getting to know somebody. You can't trust or respect someone unless you know them, and you can't really know them unless you invest time in them. That was a really short window."

Cristobal mentioned that he relied on several trusted individuals who spoke highly of Beck as a person, competitor and player. He said he was informed that Beck is a team player who will do whatever it takes to win. Cristobal expressed his curiosity about how Beck would connect with the locker room since his personality differs from last year's Miami starter and No. 1 overall NFL draft pick, Cam Ward.

Ward was a player everyone loved. He was an outspoken presence, whereas Beck is quieter. However, Cristobal noted that Beck didn't take long to earn the team's respect. The players quickly realized that Beck was serious about his commitment to winning.

Beck and Miami will kick off the season by hosting Notre Dame, which competed in last season's national championship game, 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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