Analytics are a big part of sports today, but they are all over the place when it comes to Miami Hurricanes QB Carson Beck

Analytics have become the foundation of competitive sports for the Miami Hurricanes and beyond. They transform raw data into actionable insights that can enhance performance, strategy, and decision-making.

You can make an argument that analytics today provide almost too much information. How many times have we seen data influence coaching decisions in games like going for it on fourth down? Sometimes they work, sometimes they don’t.

With the advancement of AI, you can be certain that the use of data in sports isn’t going anywhere. It’s not leaving the practice field where data keeps players from overtraining and is believed to help reduce injuries. It’s not going away from the game-planning process where opponent tendencies are broken down and strengths and weaknesses impact game plans. And it’s not going away when it comes to In-game impact decisions like substitutions, formations, and play-calling.

With all of this in mind, as a mid-summer exercise, we decided to reach out to an analytics company named Inside Edge to provide us with analytics on the Miami Hurricanes’ most-studied player on the 2025 roster. That, of course, would be quarterback Carson Beck. Judge for yourself whether it is information overload. It absolutely is data that is all over the place.

For example, did you know that Beck has averaged 9.2 Yards per Attempt (3,430 yards/374 attempts) on first down since the 2023 season, tied for 8th-best among FBS Quarterbacks? The average is 7.8. Maybe Miami offensive coordinator Shannon Dawson takes a look at that and becomes more inclined to pass on first down than he already often is.

Maybe Dawson also comes out of halftime slinging it this season once he sees that Beck threw seven TD passes in the 3rd quarter in the 2024 season, tied for fifth most among FBS quarterbacks.

Beck has also averaged 9.0 Yards per Attempt (1,200 yards/134 attempts) in the fourth quarter since the 2023 season, tied for 5th-best among FBS Quarterbacks. The average is 6.9.

More Beck fun facts:

Beck has been sacked on just 2% of pass attempts (2/119) in the Red Zone since the 2023 season – 6th-best among Power Conference Quarterbacks. He gets the ball out of his hand.

He has averaged 21.9 pass completions per game (592 / 27) since the 2023 season – 3rd-best among Power Conference Quarterbacks; Average: 11.9.

Beck has averaged 8.6 Yards per Attempt (7,431 yards/864 attempts) since the 2023 season – T-7th-best among FBS Quarterbacks; Average: 7.3.

Here are a couple of interesting negative numbers. We know that Beck struggled some in 2024 in comparison to 2023, when he led Georgia to a 13-1 season and earned All-SEC Second-Team honors after finishing third nationally in passing yards (3,941) with 24 touchdowns to six interceptions.

But last season the loss of key players like tight end Brock Bowers and wide receiver Ladd McConkey were a major factor along with very eneven play by the Georgia offensive line. Beck struggled with interceptions, doubling his total (12) from the previous season while completing 64.7% of his passes after finishing at 72.4% in 2023. He finished the season with an 11-2 record as a starter, but the Bulldogs’ two losses were marked by Beck’s struggles and then he suffered a season-ending elbow injury in the SEC Championship game. Although the Bulldogs did win an SEC title and make the playoff, the offense finished 51st nationally after a top-five finish the year prior.

So now we learn that Beck averaged just 6.7 Yards per Attempt (1,711 yards/254 attempts) in the first half in the 2024 season – 9th-worst among Power Conference Quarterbacks; Average: 7.6.

He also averaged just 5.9 Yards per Attempt (632 yards/108 attempts) in the first quarter in the 2024 season – tied for sixth-worst among Power Conference Quarterbacks; Average: 7.7.

Beck also threw 0.9 interceptions per game (12/13) in the 2024 season– tied for ninth-worst among Power Conference Quarterbacks; Average: 0.5.

The numbers also aren’t so glowing when Beck runs the ball.

Beck picked up first downs on just 10% of his rush attempts in the fourth quarter in the 2024 season– fourth-worst among FBS Quarterbacks; Average: 25%.

Beck picked up first downs on 10% of his rush attempts with 4-6 yards to go in the 2024 season – fourth-worst among Power Conference Quarterbacks; Average: 31%.

Beck has averaged just 1.2 Yards per Carry (68 yards/55 carries) in the first half since the 2023 season – sixth-worst among Power Conference Quarterbacks; Average: 3.1.

Beck committed seven fumbles in the 2024 season – tied for seventh-most among Power Conference Quarterbacks.

Beck averaged 5.5 rushing yards per game (71/13) in the 2024 season – seventh-worst among Power Conference Quarterbacks; Average: 17.4.

But the good news is that Miami likely won’t be looking for Beck to run the ball very much. The offensive line is believed to be elite led by Francis Mauigoa, Anez Cooper, Markel Bell and transfer center James Brockermeyer.

And this is a quarterback who has the experience of a lot of reps. Beck has averaged 32.0 pass attempts per game since the 2023 season – 6th-highest among Power Conference Quarterbacks; Average: 19.2. His 864 passes since the 2023 season is third-most among FBS Quarterbacks.

So no matter what the analytic numbers say, Miami certainly will not be looking to walk back on its acquisition of Beck.

Additional Analytics

Here are some additional analytics we uncovered just for fun.

Transfer TE Alex Bauman was targeted 34 times on 1st down at Tulane since the 2023 season — eighth-most among FBS Tight Ends. He has been targeted 19 times in the Red Zone since the 2023 season — third-most among FBS Tight Ends

Bauman has been targeted 3.0 times per game (81/27) since the 2023 season — tied for eighth-lowest among FBS Tight Ends; Average: 2.1

Bauman has been targeted 24 times in the fourth quarter since the 2023 season — tied for eighth-most among FBS Tight Ends

Bauman has averaged just 8.2 yards per reception (148 yards/18 catches) on first down since the 2023 season, tied for sixth-worst among FBS Tight Ends; Average: 11.2

Bauman (MIA) caught four touchdown passes in the fourth quarter in the 2024 season– T-2nd-most among FBS Skill Players.

CJ Daniels (MIA) has 401 receiving yards on 3rd down since the 2023 season– 8th-most among FBS Receivers

Transfer WR CJ Daniels has averaged 12.0 yards per target (682 yards/57 targets) on first down since the 2023 season– 4th-best among FBS Receivers; Average: 8.5

Daniels had no touchdowns on 42 receptions in the 2024 season — tie for worst Receptions per TD rate among Power Conference Receivers; Average: 11.5

Daniels has 1,547 receiving yards since the 2023 season– 8th-most among FBS Receivers

Daniels caught 14 of 17 passes when targeted (82% Reception Pct) on 3rd down in the 2024 season– best among Power Conference Receivers; Average: 58%

Transfer WR Tony Johnson (MIA) had 8 receptions in the Red Zone in the 2024 season, tied for fourth-most among Power Conference Receivers

Johnson has averaged just 8.4 yards per reception (168 yards/20 catches) in the fourth quarter since the 2023 season fifth-worst among FBS Receivers; Average: 13.4

Johnson averaged just 5.7 yards per target (137 yards/24 targets) on first down in the 2024 season, tied for sixth-worst among Power Conference Receivers; Average: 8.8 

RB Mark Fletcher has rushed for 14 TDs since the 2023 season, tied for ninth-most among Power Conference Running Backs

RB Jordan Lyle averaged 4.9 carries per game (54 carries / 11 games) in the 2024 season, tied for eighth-lowest among Power Conference Running Backs; Average: 6.6