Less than 48 hours after hitting the transfer portal, Carson Beck found a new home in Miami. So eager were the Hurricanes to sign Beck that they offered him a massive NIL deal that eclipses what Bo Nix is going to make with the Broncos this year. As such his arrival places massive expectations on him, especially given how he left Georgia Bulldogs. But his new coach has his back.

The former Georgia QB came with a lot of heat received from his stint at Athens. Heading into the season many NFL analysts saw him as a first-round or a second-round pick. However, his stock dipped throughout the season due to inconsistent performances and he saw his quarterback rating fall from 167.9 last year to 145.3 this season, while his interception total doubled from six to 12.

Though he finished the regular season strongly, throwing for 941 yards, 12 touchdowns, and no interceptions in the last three games, he hit a stumbling block during the SEC Championship game. In the game against Texas, he suffered an injury to his throwing elbow in the first half and underwent surgery on December 23. A few days later, he declared for the NFL draft, but took a U-turn and chose Miami as his next home.

There is no timetable for his return and his form and the manner of his departure at Georgia have come under scrutiny, with questions around the reported $4 million that the sixth-year senior will make next season. From Paul Finebaum to David Pollack, top analysts put him and the recruiting team on notice, but Mario Cristobal believes Beck has a lot to offer.

‘He had an elite year in 23 and a very good season in 24. He’s been protected different ways, been through a couple of different system morphs, right, coach Monin was there, and then I went to, coach Bobo, guys that I have tremendous respect for. There’s some system carryover. He’s athletic, he’s smart, he’s got superior arm talent, he’s accurate, can extend plays, he can also sit in the pocket, he runs well,” Cristobal said reaffirming his decision.

A two-year starter at Georgia, Beck recorded 7,912 yards with 58 touchdowns and 20 interceptions for the Bulldogs. He spent five seasons at UGA and has one year of eligibility remaining and at Miami, he will be replacing Heisman finalist Cam Ward.

Ward’s impressive season with the Hurricanes puts him in line for a top NFL Draft pick and also puts pressure on Beck to deliver the goods after his poor season with the Bulldogs. Beck has the potential to excel and now it remains to be seen whether his decision pays off.

But it’s not only about the tangibles. The Miami head coach is pretty well aware of what else Beck is bringing to the table. ”He is a really, he’s a great human being. He has demonstrated leadership qualities, and he’s really hard on himself, and he wants to be great, and one of the best qualities is he wanted to be here in Miami,” Cristobal added.

Regardless of how the move turns out for Beck on the field, it is proving to be an off-field success. According to Front Office Sports, the quarterback will make as much as $10 million in combined NIL deals. Beck’s agents at ESM confirmed the quarterback has secured some of his $10 million amount from brand deals, while the rest is “from the Miami NIL collective Canes Connection.”

If Beck had stuck with the decision of remaining eligible for this year’s draft, he would not have made this much money. Even if he were to be selected in the second rounds, which was unlikely, the highest average salary he could’ve earned was $2.7 million. Moreover, when you compare his Miami contract with that of NFL’s Bo Nix, it is easy to understand why turning down the chance to go pro makes sense for Beck.

Nix signed a four-year $18 million contract with the Broncos after being drafted No. 12 overall in last year’s draft. The cap hit on Nix’s deal in 2024 was $3.3 million and will be $4.2 million in 2025. Comparatively, Beck is set to make $4.4 million in 2025 with Miami per On3. Meanwhile, questions continue to surround Miami’s decision to sign Beck, and that too on a massive deal.

Speaking on the move, Georgia football legend David Pollack said, “I don’t want to say this. I’m not saying this rude, but like it’s damaged goods right now. Like you don’t know what you’re getting, so if you’re going to make a heavy investment (in Beck) I think it’s kind of hard to do if you’re a college team.”

But when Beck is at his best, there is no second thought that he is one of the most elite quarterbacks in the entire country. But his performances last season have changed the perception around him. With a move to Miami, he would hope to revive his draft stock but concern looms about his injury and that is something even Cristobal is not overlooking.

Mario Cristobal had one area of concern about Carson Beck

Cristobal has a lot of faith in his decision, but he knows to have a spring season, Beck needs to be 100 percent healthy. He had critical surgery on Dec. 23 to fix his ulnar collateral ligament. Primarily, the expected full recovery time was said to be around spring. But his Miami scouts aren’t very sure of the timeline.

While the entire Miami camp was excited to see Beck jump in and suit up for the practices, Miami coach Mario Cristobal said on Monday, he doesn’t see any timetable yet. ”There’s always hope,”  Cristobal said. ”You know, the sooner the better. I know we went through examinations yesterday and everything’s ahead of schedule. I’ll probably have more clarity in maybe a couple of weeks, so I’d hate to say this or that.”

But the Miami coach is thrilled to have the former Georgia quarterback in the room. Despite all the hot air, he embraced Beck with open arms but left one piece of advice to chew over at the same time. Comparing him to Ward, Cristobal said attending practices, building connections, and just being around the camp is optimal. This is all that made Ward a standout.

Beck is already listening and connecting the dots. Time will tell the rest!