Georgia Fall Camp Position Preview: Quarterback
We’re less than 10 days away from the start of fall camp in Athens, Ga., and what better time to take a look at what the Bulldogs bring to the table this season? Georgia is the two-time defending national champions and going for a three-peat in 2023, something that hasn’t been accomplished since the 1930s. If that’s to happen, it’ll take a total team effort.
Over the course of the final few days leading up to the start of fall camp, we’ll be doing a deep dive into each of Georgia’s position groups, breaking down players to watch and all the biggest storylines as the season quickly approaches. We start today with the quarterbacks.
Quarterback
In the Room: Carson Beck (Junior), Brock Vandagriff (Redshirt Sophomore), Gunner Stockton (Redshirt Freshman)
Position Coach: Mike Bobo (Offensive Coordinator)
Georgia’s quarterback battle has been one of the biggest storylines across the country this offseason, and rightfully so when the back-to-back champions have to replace their two-time National Championship winning starter.
Stetson Bennett is gone after an incredible sixth season that saw him throw for over 4,000 yards, total 37 touchdowns and earn a trip to New York for the Heisman Trophy ceremony. Bennett didn’t win the award, but in the process became the first Georgia quarterback finalist and first finalist in general this century.
Also gone is the man that helped make it possible – offensive coordinator Todd Monken. After leading Georgia’s offense to a top-5 finish in both scoring (41.1 points per game) and total offense (501.1 yards per game), Monken was hired for the same position with the NFL’s Baltimore Ravens. There he’ll get to work with Super Bowl winning head coach John Harbaugh and 2019 MVP quarterback Lamar Jackson.
Replacing either would be a storyline. Replacing both in a single season is definitely one, but Georgia fans should have confidence in the Dawgs tasked with doing so.
First, at offensive coordinator (and quarterback’s coach), it’s Mike Bobo who returns to Athens after previously leading Georgia’s offenses from 2007 to 2014. It was his 2014 unit that still holds the record for points per game, scoring an average of 41.3 a contest. That should excite folks to see back between the hedges, and what Kirby Smart and Bulldog offensive players had to say about working with Bobo this spring should serve as comfort. Monken’s system will still be in play, only Bobo will be making the calls.
Under center, the starter has yet to be announced, but it seems all but assured to be Carson Beck. A fourth year player in Georgia’s program, Beck has appeared in 12 career contests – all in mop up duty. Seven of those appearances came last season as Beck got to operate the offense a little bit more than before, throwing it 35 times for 26 completions, 310 yards and four touchdowns. Maybe most importantly, he threw no interceptions.
CHECK IT OUT: Carson Beck, Brock Vandagriff share on Georgia’s ‘healthy’ quarterback battle
Beck served as the backup to Bennett last season and got the first crack at replacing him this spring. While all three of the quarterbacks rotated through different spots, it was Beck that without a doubt had the most impressive day during the spring game in front of the Georgia faithful. He completed 13 of 18 passes for 211 yards and a score in the first half while working with the first team.
Still, Beck will have to have a strong fall camp to solidify his starting spot. Former five-star Brock Vandagriff and Gunner Stockton, who Bobo recruited and once had committed to him at South Carolina, won’t be backing down anytime soon. Neither has completed a pass in a collegiate contest, and Stockton hasn’t made an appearance at all, but both bring mobility to the table that Beck doesn’t quite have. Could either of them be the guy? Absolutely, but we wouldn’t bet on it right now. It’s Beck’s job to lose headed into fall camp.
