Miami quarterback Carson Beck has guided the No. 10 Hurricanes through the gauntlet of the College Football Playoff to a spot in the national championship game. Beck will get a chance to play for a national championship just a year after a shocking departure from the Georgia Bulldogs, with his reputation maligned after a difficult season.
What Did Mario Cristobal Say To Address Carson Beck’s Growth at Miami?
Despite declaring for the NFL Draft before withdrawing, Beck opted to enter the transfer portal and joined Miami as a replacement for Cam Ward, who had just failed to take the Hurricanes to the playoffs.
During Sunday’s segment of the “College GameDay” podcast with host Rece Davis, Cristobal outlined the difference between the Beck who arrived from Georgia and the one who has led Miami to the national championship game.
“I think we’ve witnessed his true DNA and the type of competitor that he is,” Cristobal said. “Obviously, he was battered, he was in a situation where he didn’t have many fans and not much support. I think what he quickly demonstrated to his teammates was that he was coming here to Miami, he of course, wanted to better his situation.
“But he was all in on team and that the team goals and being a great teammate superceded everything else. They quickly realized how hard of a worker he is, how smart he was and what he was willing to do and sacrifice for his teammates. So, he gained their respect right away and he’s playing his best football down the stretch now.”
Beck has tallied 3,581 passing yards, 29 touchdowns, and 11 interceptions, while adding 50 rushing yards and 2 rushing touchdowns, earning a PFSN College QB Impact OFFI score of 82.7 this season.
Beck Details Portal Journey From Georgia to Miami
After throwing 12 interceptions and getting injured before the Bulldogs’ College Football Playoff journey last year, Beck endured hostility from all corners regarding his suitability to be Georgia’s QB1. Despite Gunner Stockton emerging as one of the best quarterbacks in college football, the Bulldogs fell at the quarterfinal stage of the playoff once again.
While speaking to reporters before the national championship game, Beck detailed his arduous portal journey from Athens to Coral Gables, and leading Miami to a national championship game.
“Obviously, for my story, it’s a little bit different because I was at Georgia for five years. I stuck it out. I sat for three years. I waited my turn to have the opportunity to be a quarterback at the University of Georgia,” Beck said. “Obviously, I had the injury, and things didn’t pan out the way that I exactly thought they were going to.
“Then I was blessed with the opportunity to enter the transfer portal, to have another opportunity to play at the University of Miami. Obviously, talking to Coach Cristobal, talking to Coach Dawson in that process, this is what we thought we could do.”
Despite the national championship game being played at Hard Rock Stadium, the Canes are 8.5-point underdogs against Indiana and Beck will face off against the reigning Heisman Trophy winner, Fernando Mendoza, in a battle of the best quarterbacks in college football.
