Georgia Bulldogs QB Carson Beck helped lead his team to a win over an upset-minded opponent, and in doing so, he may have strengthened his case for early-round consideration in the 2024 NFL Draft.
Georgia Beats Missouri Behind the Arm of 2024 NFL Draft Prospect Carson Beck
The Bulldogs have a target on their backs each week. They’re the No. 2 overall team in the country, and they’re 42-1 over their last 43 games under Kirby Smart.
Week 10 presented the Bulldogs with one of their toughest tests yet: The No. 12 ranked Missouri Tigers.
The Tigers were 7-1 heading into this week and boasted one of the most complete rosters Georgia has seen yet on the opposing sideline. On offense, Brady Cook and Luther Burden formed a formidable duo, while on the defensive side, the Tigers boasted NFL Draft prospects like Darius Robinson, Ty’Ron Hopper, and Kris Abrams-Draine.
In the end, it didn’t matter. Georgia was once again able to stay in control, with a 30-21 win over its foe. And Beck was one of the driving forces in the team’s victory.
Against a talented Missouri defense, Beck completed 21 of 32 passes for 254 yards and two crucial touchdowns. Even when encountering pressure from the Tigers’ rush, he stayed composed, on rhythm, and delivered some very impressive passes.
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As a passer, Beck did a little bit of everything in this game. The short game was working from the start, and he also did his part to stay on time with quick, tight-window completions. But he also showed off his crisp layering ability up the seam and connected with Ladd McConkey on seven passes for 95 yards.
Beck is now up to 16 touchdowns with just four interceptions on the year. He’s completing well over 70% of his passes and is averaging 300 yards per game.
Beck Improving 2024 NFL Draft Stock as Season Moves Along
Beck isn’t the same athlete that his predecessor, Stetson Bennet, was, but he’s proven his ability as an adept pocket passer with equally enthralling distribution and layering ability in 2023.
Beck is much younger than Bennett was, and he has visibly superior arm talent — an important quality for discerning potential starters at the NFL level.
For Beck, one of the concerns coming into this game against Missouri was down-to-down consistency. And a defense like Missouri’s — one with talent in the secondary and pressure-generators up front — could have been a recipe for regression for Beck.
Instead, however, Beck didn’t flinch. He converted on crucial throws when his team needed it, and he used his unique brand of arm talent to give his pass-catchers easy opportunities from within the pocket.
Beck will have a decision to make at the end of the 2023 season. He’s not a first-round lock, but past Drake Maye, Caleb Williams, and J.J. McCarthy, there is a lot of uncertainty regarding how the board will settle.
Bo Nix, Michael Penix Jr., and Jayden Daniels are all highly-regarded veterans, but their rankings will be volatile across the board for various reasons. Shedeur Sanders, Quinn Ewers, and Cameron Ward are all talented young passers, but they may all end up returning to school.
If Beck leads Georgia to an undefeated regular-season record, an SEC title, and another national championship berth, it’ll only help his stock in the eyes of football evaluators. And in a 2024 NFL Draft QB class that’s fairly open past the top three, he’s positioned himself to take advantage.