It is on the board that Carson Beck has played his last ever snap in college football. As hyperbolic as it may seem, it’s a very tangible outcome. The Georgia Bulldogs’ QB1 went down with an elbow injury on his throwing arm during the SEC Championship Game. An attempt at a Hail Mary to the endzone at the cusp of halftime transpired into a nightmare. There’s no timetable for his return as Georgia prepares to traverse the CFP without him. This raises a hypothetical question etched in a rather morbid reality.

What’s next for Carson Beck? That straightforward question has a very convoluted answer, which he may want to avoid pondering over himself. For argument’s sake, assume Carson cannot heal in time for the CFP. He has run out of collegiate eligibility. That leads into April’s NFL Draft. After his performances this season, Carson’s prospects do not look particularly great. He needed a good playoff run to bolster his stock, but that opportunity has been seemingly seized from him. With his NFL future appearing inconspicuous, one ex-pro has cropped up with a proverbial helping hand, a prompt vote of confidence.

A receiver is definitely a quarterback’s best friend. Cincinnati Bengals’ great Chad “Ocho Cinco” Johnson has become a proponent of Carson’s NFL prospects. In a montage on the Nightcap YouTube channel, Ocho aired his opinion on why Carson could indeed be a success in the big league, conditional on his environment. He gave the example of former Mr. Irrelevant Brock Purdy’s escapades, owing to the plethora of weapons and good culture he got dropped under center in.

Ocho said, “There’s nothing wrong with Brock Purdy. [He’s] a good quarterback. But you look at the support cast and what he has around him. God damn decent. Can you put Carson Beck in that 49ers offense? You think he’s going to be okay? Yeah. It’s all about timing. It’s all about getting the football out at the right time. [Purdy] has a great supporting cast. Now, can you put Carson Beck in goddamn Carolina? No.” While the transition is not as linear as Purdy makes it seem, Ocho makes a fair point.

Carson Beck is perhaps not a force multiplier who can accentuate the other pieces in the offense. However, only a handful of humans in the world are in that echelon. Carson has shown flashes of brilliance during his 2 years as the starting QB in Georgia. The point Chad Johnson makes about being surrounded by “a great supporting cast” is actually something that has been to the detriment of Carson in his senior season.

Carson Beck’s poor season lines up with his supporting cast in Athens deteriorating

The Georgia Bulldogs have been perennial contenders in the Kirby Smart era. Year after year, they are in and around the Natty equation and were successful twice. A large chunk of this success is due to coach Smart’s acumen and the program’s culture from the top down. However, it’s also due to the personnel that take to the gridiron.

As presently constructed, this iteration of the Georgia roster is a far cry from previous seasons. They’re still good, very good. However, relative to their own standards, the ancillary pieces on offense are a rung below the likes of Brock Bowers and Ladd McConkey. Last season, before the duo turned pro, the offense was doing better. By extension, Carson Beck was gaining plaudits. A downturn in the offensive production can be attributed to the QB. His weapons are not as potent anymore, though. This is evidenced by the fact Georgia has the most dropped catches across the FBS.

Carson cannot be absolved of his shortcomings throughout the season. He has turned the football over at a high clip, which sticks out in the minds of onlookers beyond the good aspects. The injury means it’s uncertain whether he shall be afforded the chance to redeem himself. Backup Gunner Stockton’s performance in the 2nd half in Atlanta didn’t do him much good either. If the curtain had truly closed on Carson Beck’s college football career, it would have been a polarizing ride that might have been perceived with a little more regard in hindsight.