Kirby Smart sets expectations clear for Georgia QB Carson Beck's Heisman contention in 2024 season: "He did a lot of great things"
Kirby Smart, in an exclusive interview with Phillip Dukes, the National Recruiting Analyst and Host for On3sports, spoke about Georgia QB Carson Beck's Heisman contention.
Dukes asked the Georgia Bulldogs coach what a successful season from Carson Beck would look like to him. Smart replied (3:02):
"I'll always say success is defined by being the best you can possibly be. And I thought he probably exceeded those expectations last year. For a first-year starting quarterback, he did a lot of great things."
Smart continued:
"Well, now, this year, you got a lot of high expectations again for Carson Beck and for Georgia. So we don't run or hide from the Heisman talk as something that he embraces. We embrace it.
"We know that if we play really good defense to get turnovers, he's gonna have better performances. If offensively were able to run, pass the ball, play action, and be really good on third down again, he gets more opportunities."
The Bulldogs concluded:
"So he knows the more success we have as a team, the better that gives him a chance at some of that Heisman talk. He's certainly deserving and worthy of that. And it's not something we run from."
Carson Beck enters his senior year at Georgia
Carson Beck enrolled at the University of Georgia in January 2020. He featured for Georgia for the first time in the fourth quarter of a Missouri game.
Beck gradually rose up the quarterback depth chart until he became Stetson Bennett's understudy for the 2021 and 2022 college football seasons. As a backup to Bennett, Beck won two CFP national championships.
Following Bennett's entry into the NFL, Beck took over that starting quarterback role for the Georgia Bulldogs ahead of the 2023 season.
He performed admirably in his first year as a starter, leading the Bulldogs to a 12-0 start to the season. However, the Bulldogs lost a closely contested SEC Championship game to the Alabama Crimson Tide, losing the chance to compete for a third consecutive National Championship.
Beck started every game in 2023, putting up a stat line of 3,941 passing yards, 24 touchdowns and six interceptions. He enters his senior year to lead the Bulldogs to a national championship and enter the 2025 NFL Draft with a bang.