Georgia’s own Carson Beck is the Heisman favorite heading into the 2024 season. A wide range of factors led to this consensus from the nation’s pundits.
1 Experience
Carson Beck is entering his second year as a starter and fourth season with the Dawgs. He has a mindset that fewer and fewer college players tend to possess these days. Beck was willing to sit and learn. Never did anything release about him thinking about entering the transfer portal. He learned from both JT Daniels and Stetson Bennett IV. Daniels is said to have an incredible mind as a quarterback, and Bulldog Nation knows what Stetson did for Georgia. In Beck’s first year as the starter, he commanded Georgia to a 13-1 season.
2 Offensive Weapons
Although Georgia lost a few stars to the NFL, the Bulldogs have a variety of offensive talent garnered through recruiting and the transfer portal. The list goes on, but a few key returning playmakers include Dominic Lovett, Rara Thomas, Dillon Bell, Oscar Delp, and Lawson Luckie. Some new additions that are expected to make a big impact are Colbie Young, Sacovie White, NiTareon Tuggle, London Humphreys, Michael Jackson III, and Benjamin Yurosek.
3 Schedule
Georgia’s 2024 schedule is ranked among one of the hardest schedules in the country. With road games in Lexington, Tuscaloosa, Austin, and Oxford, Carson Beck is provided with a rare opportunity. He will have chances to show off his talents in some of the toughest environments. Expect Beck to have his “Heisman Moment” at one of these locations.
4 Less-talented Heisman Competition
Not to say this class does not have talent, but previous years have been even more loaded with competition. Specifically, the quarterback position was stacked during the 2023 season. Other top contenders this year include Texas’s Quinn Ewers, Alabama’s Jalen Milroe, Oregon’s Dillon Gabriel, and Missouri’s Luther Burden III.
5 Team-hype
There is no doubt that being on a top team in the nation helps with national coverage and overall hype. Georgia is the favorite to win the 2024 National Championship. No matter the game, all eyes will be on the Dawgs.
6 Pure-passing talent
Carson Beck is an elite pocket-passer. There is a reason NFL analysts project him to go early in the first round of the 2025 NFL Draft. Beck ranks first in success rate among returning quarterbacks in both play-action and non-play-action drop back situations.
7 Offensive scheme
Georgia’s offensive coordinator, Mike Bobo, runs an effective offense. In the 2023 season, Georgia scored an average of 40.14 points per game. This season’s new weapons provide Mike Bobo with the ability to again create a versatile playstyle.
8 Offensive Line
The offensive line consists of some of the most underappreciated players on the team. This year, a few major starters make their return. Tate Ratledge, Dylan Fairchild, and Earnest Greene III will be vital leaders in the offensive line group. Surrounded by other experienced linemen such as Xavier Truss and an athletic new starting center in Jared Wilson, Beck should have no problem navigating the pocket.
9 Sneaky Athleticism
Don’t let Carson Beck’s identity as a pocket passer fool you. Beck has sneaky size and athleticism to make him a legitimate threat on the ground. He has no fear working his way to the second level and lowering his shoulder.
10 Versatile RB Group (Pass-catchers)
Georgia’s running back group is made up of almost entirely new faces. Roderick Robinson II, Branson Robinson, and Cash Jones are familiar faces to Georgia fans, but new guys like Trevor Etienne, Nate Frazier, Chauncey Bowens, and Dwight Phillips Jr. help provide a unique aspect to the Georgia offense. Many of these backs are extremely versatile with their speed. Freshmen backs Bowens and Phillips Jr. were both star track athletes. Both clocked sub-10.9 second 100M dashes (Bowens 10.88 and Phillips Jr. 10.29). Needless to say, Beck will have some backfield pass-catching options during the 2024 season.
11 Last season’s stats
Last season, Carson Beck recorded 4,057 all-purpose yards. Among those yards were 24 passing touchdowns and four rushing touchdowns. Beck was ranked first in EPA among returning quarterbacks. EPA relates to expected points added, which is adjusted based on the type of pass, depth of pass, and if he was pressured or not.
12 Competitiveness
Along with the rest of the team, last season’s loss in the SEC Championship left a chip on the shoulder of Carson Beck. He wants to win a championship behind the wheel. If the team wins a championship, he would go down as one of the most decorated Georgia players of all time. Beck’s competitiveness will take both himself and the team far. The Heisman Trophy voters love a great player on a great team.