Carson Beck admits 1 thing was huge factor in his Georgia return

Georgia quarterback Carson Beck (15) throws a pass to Georgia tight end Brock Bowers (19) during the second half of a NCAA college football game against UAB in Athens, Ga., on Saturday, Sept. 23, 2023. Photo Credit: Joshua L. Jones / USA TODAY NETWORK

Georgia quarterback Carson Beck passed on the chance to head to the NFL this year, announcing instead that he will return for his senior season. That decision was made easier by one significant factor.

Beck admitted Thursday that Georgia’s loss to Alabama in the SEC Championship was a big factor in his decision to return. The quarterback said that “maybe things would be different” if Georgia had made the College Football Playoff, but the failure to do so solidified his ultimate choice.

“I think I knew, truly, a few days after the game. I knew in my heart exactly what I wanted to do and what I was going to do,” Beck said, via Seth Emerson of The Athletic. “I just had to talk to people and make sure everyone was in agreement with exactly what I wanted to do.”

Beck denied that NIL deals had a major impact on his decision, but he did add that he is not eager to be a backup in the NFL immediately when he could start for Georgia for another season.

Beck revealed last week that he would not go pro, even though he likely would have been drafted. Bulldogs fans will never be happy with that loss to Alabama, but this may prove to be a silver lining.