Carson Beck’s rise once felt inevitable. A rocket-armed quarterback in a system built to churn out NFL-ready talent. His ascent at Georgia Bulldogs had all the makings of a classic success story. But as quickly as he skyrocketed into the national conversation, the winds shifted. Now, instead of gearing up for the 2025 NFL Draft, Beck is resetting his trajectory at Miami Hurricanes, a $4 million QB with everything to prove. Georgia OC Mike Bobo and the Bulldogs’ staff once saw Beck as their guy—until he wasn’t.

And as he trades the SEC for the ACC, one key question lingers: Was Carson Beck ever truly the right fit for Mike Bobo’s offense, or was he simply a square peg in a round hole? Smoke from 247Sports ULTIMATE CFB Show didn’t mince words when discussing Beck’s turbulent journey, laying out a brutally honest assessment of where things went wrong. “Mike Bobo [is] a good coordinator—needs his own types of guy. Carson Beck wasn’t,” he explained, doubling down on the idea that Georgia’s offensive blueprint wasn’t built around Beck’s strengths.

“Like, I don’t know, like how much better would they have been? Support creativity? Maybe some. But they still didn’t have the horses to run in the race, and Mike Bobo was [a] good coordinator if you have [the] right type of players within his offense.” The idea is simple: Bobo’s system thrives with quarterbacks who excel in structured, run-heavy offenses that thrive on play-action. Beck, a pure pocket passer, required a different approach—one Georgia wasn’t willing to tailor to him.

It’s a damning indictment for Carson Beck, especially considering the expectations placed on him. His arm talent has never been in question, but fitting into Georgia’s scheme proved more challenging than anticipated. “Carson Beck was that guy. He is a pocket guy, pro-style offensive mind, predicates a lot of information at quarterback with the ball in hand to the right playmakers,” Smoke continued, breaking down why Beck’s skill set didn’t fully mesh with Bobo’s vision.

The Bulldogs leaned heavily on a dominant ground game, prioritizing efficiency and play-action over wide-open passing concepts. Beck, while accurate and poised, wasn’t the dual-threat or quick-trigger decision-maker Bobo’s offense thrives on. As a result, Georgia’s attack at times felt disjointed—highly effective, yet never fully unlocking Beck’s full arsenal.

Now, with a fresh start at Miami, Carson Beck is looking to rewrite his narrative. Brad Crawford of 247Sports believes the move was carefully calculated and for good reason. “Carson Beck made a calculated decision when he removed himself from the 2025 NFL draft and decided another year in college was best for him,” Crawford noted, suggesting that Beck recognized his draft stock wasn’t where he wanted it to be. Instead of risking a mid-to-late-round selection, Beck opted for a situation where he could command an offense tailored to his strengths. The Hurricanes, coming off a season where Cam Ward thrived in their system, offer him the perfect stage.

But with great opportunity comes great pressure. Beck is now Miami’s highest-paid player under the NIL landscape, a status that brings expectations far beyond just winning games. He needs to prove that Georgia’s struggles weren’t on him.

The transition, however, won’t be seamless. Beck must develop chemistry with Miami’s receivers quickly, all while preparing for a season opener against a Notre Dame squad that will test him from the first snap. “There’s a chance—if he cuts down on mistakes and poor decision-making—he could rise in the 2026 conversation for top players at the position,” Crawford added, making it clear that the path back to the NFL remains open.

David Pollack throws shade at Carson Beck

Once a shooting star at Georgia, Carson Beck’s offseason has been more like a free fall. And now, Bulldogs legend David Pollack just added more turbulence to Beck’s flight path.

Appearing on the See Ball Get Ball podcast, Pollack didn’t hold back when comparing Beck to his successor in Athens. “I think Gunner Stockton will have a better year this year than Carson Beck had last year,” Pollack said.

That’s a bold take, especially considering everyone had Beck as a top QB prospect before his transfer to Miami. But Pollack is all-in on Stockton, who led Georgia into the College Football Playoff against Notre Dame.

“I don’t know that I’ve met a more humble kid,” Pollack added. “He is an easy kid to cheer for.” Meanwhile, Beck’s move from Athens to Miami has been anything but smooth. This latest comment from a Georgia icon is just another hit in an offseason full of negative press.

So, is Stockton really set to outshine Beck in 2025? Or is this just another case of hyping up the next guy in line?