In a devastating blow to Georgia’s national title hopes, star quarterback Carson Beck will miss the remainder of the season after undergoing surgery on his right elbow. The Bulldogs’ signal-caller, who many projected as a potential first-round NFL draft pick, suffered the injury late in the first half of Georgia’s thrilling 22-19 overtime victory against Texas in the SEC Championship Game.
Beck had been seeking medical opinions in the weeks following the injury and hadn’t practiced with the team. On Monday, the school announced that Beck underwent a successful procedure performed by renowned orthopedic surgeon Dr. Neil ElAttrache in Los Angeles to repair the ulnar collateral ligament in his throwing elbow.
Gunner Stockton Era Begins for Bulldogs
With Beck sidelined, the keys to Georgia’s offense now belong to sophomore quarterback Gunner Stockton. The former four-star recruit is expected to make his first career start on college football’s biggest stage – a College Football Playoff quarterfinal matchup against Big Ten champion Michigan in the Allstate Sugar Bowl on New Year’s Day.
Stockton saw limited action in mop-up duty this season, completing 12 of 21 passes for 145 yards, one touchdown and one interception. The 6-foot-1, 210-pound dual-threat QB was a highly touted prospect coming out of Rabun County High School, where he broke Deshaun Watson’s Georgia state record with 177 career touchdown passes.
“Gunner has prepared for this moment since the day he arrived on campus,” Georgia head coach Kirby Smart said. “He’s mature beyond his years, and our entire team has the utmost confidence in him.”
– Georgia Head Coach Kirby Smart
Beck’s Georgia Legacy
A redshirt junior, Beck took over as Georgia’s starter this season after serving as Stetson Bennett’s backup during last year’s national championship run. He excelled in his first season at the helm, completing 68% of his passes for 3,545 yards with 32 touchdowns and just 5 interceptions while leading Georgia to a 13-0 record.
The Jacksonville, Florida native was recently named a finalist for the Davey O’Brien and Johnny Unitas Golden Arm awards, which honor the nation’s top quarterbacks. Many draft analysts projected Beck as a likely first-round selection if he chose to forego his remaining eligibility and enter the 2025 NFL Draft.
Long Recovery Ahead
Georgia stated that a full recovery is anticipated for Beck, though the rehab and recovery from UCL reconstruction surgery is lengthy. The typical recovery timetable is 10-14 months, putting Beck’s status for the start of the 2025 season in jeopardy.
- The school expects Beck to be able to resume throwing in Spring 2025.
- He will likely miss all of Spring practice and could be limited in Fall camp.
For now, Beck’s focus will be on supporting his teammates and attacking his rehab as Georgia aims for a second consecutive national title. Even without their star quarterback, the Bulldogs remain one of the most talented teams in the country and a serious threat to win it all again.
| Carson Beck 2024 Season Stats | Passing | Rushing |
|---|---|---|
| Completions/Attempts | 259/382 | – |
| Passing Yards | 3,545 | – |
| Passing Touchdowns | 32 | – |
| Interceptions | 5 | – |
| Passer Rating | 175.8 | – |
| Rushing Attempts | – | 64 |
| Rushing Yards | – | 156 |
| Rushing Touchdowns | – | 2 |
But there’s no denying the Bulldogs’ path to a repeat became much more difficult the moment Beck went down. Georgia fans will always wonder what might have been had their star QB not gotten injured. For Beck, the long road to recovery begins now as he aims to come back stronger than ever and prove he still has what it takes to succeed at the highest level – whenever that chance may come.
