Kirby Smart shares takeaways from G-Day spring game, evaluates Carson Beck's performance

After Georgia took the field at Sanford Stadium for the first time in 2024, Kirby Smart had one goal for the annual G-Day game. He got exactly that.

“Healthy,” he told SEC Network’s Taylor Davis afterward with a grin. “No. 1 is healthy.”

Of course, the spring game allowed a refreshed Georgia team to play in front of fans for the first time. Carson Beck is back at quarterback to headline the group of returning talent, but Gunner Stockton also showed a potential glimpse of the future with an impressive day.

All in all, Smart said he liked what he saw, and he enjoyed being back on the field.

“Guys got to compete, put on a show for the fans. We still like to play football around here in the spring,” Smart said. “So if we get a chance to play football, we want to play football. Proud of the guys for competing.”

Beck continued to impress as he gets ready for his second season as the starting quarterback. It was also his first spring game as the starter after last year’s competition with Brock Vandagriff, and he shined through the first half with 169 yards and a touchdown.

Smart certainly liked what he saaw.

“Well, I’ve looked at it from a whole spring perspective and he’s had an awesome spring,” Smart said. “He’s had a really good spring. I think the defense did affect the quarterback a little more today. Had a little more pressure in the pocket. But he handled that well.”

Georgia has to replace some big-time production this year with the departures of tight end Brock Bowers and the two-headed running back monster of Kendall Milton and Daijun Edwards. But the Bulldogs made some notable additions, including running back Trevor Etienne and tight end Ben Yurosek out of the transfer portal to add to a top-rated recruiting class.

While the spring game likely doesn’t feature many new developments, Beck said it was a good way to tie a bow on spring practice and preview what’s to come. He also saw multiple pass-catchers step up on Saturday, which bodes well after a strong spring.

“Especially in the spring game, we’re going to try to get a lot of different guys in there, see what they can do to, try to give guys chances,” Beck said. “That was a crazy catch at the end by Dom [Lovett]. He had a really good day. He’s also had a really good spring.

“But yeah, our wide receiver core and those tight ends and those running backs, they’ve had a great spring overall. And like I said, I’m excited to get with them in the summer and continue to work.”

What’s interesting about Saturday’s G-Day is it ended in a 20-20 tie. That means there was no winner and, therefore, no loser.

So, how does Kirby Smart plan on handling the reward for the winner?

“There’s always a reward on the line,” he said. “So we have to share the reward now.”