Carson Beck, the prodigal son of the Georgia Bulldogs, didn’t flinch even for a moment to join Miami and put his NFL dream on the back burner for a year. In many aspects, the player could be the perfect choice for Miami after a player as prolific as Cam Ward departed. Beck had done it earlier too in the 2023 season, where he produced close to 4,000 yards at a stellar 72.4% completion rate. But can he do it again in Miami and get redemption for his 2024 season?
In a sense, Mario Cristobal has everything in Miami to make Beck successful. The head coach has roped in a second-ranked class in the ACC that is brimming with talent. Furthermore, his transfer additions of players like CJ Daniels (WR) from LSU and Ethan O’Connor (CB) from Washington State promise a lot in the talent department. Add to that the freshman additions, which include 3rd-ranked edge Hayden Lowe and 13-ranked WR Joshua Moore. Still, there may be some complications for Carson Beck.
CFB insider Bruce Warner, a.k.a. The Truth Teller, provided a challenge that Beck had to undergo this spring. He wondered whether the wide receivers of Miami would be able to hit their peak with Beck. “When Beck gets here, it’s still going to be the question – Is he locked in with these guys? Are they on the same page? You know Ward got here early last year and worked with these guys, and look at what happened.”
Well, questions are still looming large if Beck will be able to perform fully at his ability after recovering from a long injury he suffered against Texas to his throwing arm. Although the player is observing practices from the sidelines keenly and is rearing to perform and practice. Still, the injury may have its complications as we had seen Quinn Ewers’ performances decline last season coming through an injury. Bruce Warner also said the same and provided Beck’s expected date of return.
“I expect him to start throwing what by the end of this month [April], maybe May for sure; and spending a lot of time with those players in their own little practices someplace. Not organized, because it can’t be, but I expect him to work on a lot of the patterns and the timing. And he’s down there watching all this, and he’s observing who’s doing what and what guys run certain patterns well,” continued Warner.
Beck, who has injury concerns to look after, also has an onus to prove himself this season. In 2024, the player threw for 3,485 yards with a 64.7% completion rate, which again was a downgrade from his 2023 season. Moreover, his rushing stats also faltered, and he accumulated just 71 yards as opposed to 116 yards at an average of 1.9 yards per carry in 2023. His interceptions? Biggest hit. They doubled from 6 in 2023 to 12 last year. Then, there are also concerns about the player staring down wide receivers and giving high turnovers. So, if all these things are taken into account, the 2025 season will have a lot to prove for Beck and make his name visible on top in draft rankings.
Mario Cristobal accepts the brutality of transfer portal?
We all know the transfer portal and NIL have run havoc on college football so much that coaches are even canceling spring games in fear of poaching. Many coaches have justified their antics, while some have given convenient reasons to escape criticism. Still, one thing is certain now: NIL and the portal are here to stay, and coaches will need to be prepared thoroughly for any crisis. Mario Cristobal also echoed similar thoughts on the issue.
When asked about how he prepares for the eventuality, the Miami head coach paused for a moment and said, “I don’t complain. We just go, we work, and I believe in that. But what’s the best way to put this?” After a long pause, he added, “The portal is always open, regardless of the dates that are prescribed. Everybody’s in the portal everywhere. That’s what it’s like. That’s a reality of where we are in terms of college football now. You’re not going to find any complaining on this side. I want to say that 14 times, you adapt or you die, right? Bottom line.”
We have seen the Aggies suffering through a similar fate when not relying on the portal, and several other programs become easy pickings for powerhouse teams. Miami is trying to avoid that. That’s why the transfer and the drama that ensued were important for Miami after Xavier Lucas transferred from Wisconsin. The transfer wasn’t a minor one, but the declaration of war from Miami’s side, with Cristobal embracing both good and bad of the portal with open arms.
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