Georgia Bulldogs quarterback Carson Beck officially declared for the 2025 NFL Draft over the weekend following surgery on his right elbow.
However, Beck’s job with the Bulldogs is far from over.
According to head coach Kirby Smart, Beck will be in New Orleans helping Gunner Stockton take his place as Georgia’s starting quarterback against Notre Dame in the Sugar Bowl.
“Yeah, he’s going to join us in the next couple of days down here,” Smart said. “Big thing for him has been a part of his rehab process and what all he’s had to do. He’s had a really tough injury. He needed to get some rehab from people in Jacksonville. He’s got a specialist that has worked with this injury. Brock Purdy had a very similar injury. Nick Mullens, I think [Matthew] Stafford. He had several people. So when you talk about his team of people, including the surgeons, he’s had to do a lot of work with that. So he’s been there for Gunner throughout. He’s supported Gunner, had multiple conversations with him. Looking forward to having him with us for this game.”
The game will mark Stockton’s first career start for the Bulldogs and it won’t be an easy task against an aggressive Notre Dame defense.
But between Smart and Beck’s support, and Stockton having the necessary tools to be a starting QB, the Bulldogs will be in good shape on New Year’s Day.
“I think the number one thing a quarterback has to have is decision-making skill. Number one, he makes really good decisions,” Smart said of what makes Stockton a good quarterback. “Number two thing for a quarterback is accuracy. Not necessarily arm talent, but accuracy. He has accuracy. So decision-making is a skill. Accuracy is a huge skill. Athletic ability and talent probably takes over third. He has those traits. All the intangibles in terms of toughness, character, embody what he was raised on.
“His dad was a really good football player, played at Georgia Southern. He’s been raised around football. He’s a coach’s son. All the players play harder for him. Do you make the players around you better is what you look for in a quarterback. I think he raises the skill level of everybody around him because of who he is. So that’s my reason for believing he’s a good quarterback.”