BREAKING: UGA Football QB Carson Beck has "Successful" Surgery | Won't Play Until 2025
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ATHENS - Kirby Smart and UGA football will have to move on without Carson Beck for the College Football Playoff, and perhaps beyond.
Beck underwent successful surgery Monday on his right elbow to repair his ulnar collateral ligament (UCL), performed by orthopedic surgeon Dr. Neal ElAttrache in Los Angeles, Ca. A full recovery is expected with throwing to begin spring of 2025.
Beck was injured on the final play of the first half during the Bulldogs’ win in the SEC Championship Game over the Texas Longhorns. Beck returned to for the final play of the game - a handoff to RB Trevor Etienne after backup QB Gunner Stockton was knocked out of the game when his helmet was smashed off during a run.
"It was best handoff of my life," Etienne told reporters after the game.
Beck is expected to enter the NFL Draft in the spring.
Down 6-3, Beck attempted to launch a hail mary on the final play before the half. He got hit hard by a Texas defender, fumbling and falling awkwardly to the ground.
Beck ended the game 7 of 13 with 56 yards and no touchdowns. He also had several passes dropped in the first half. However, with just one arm, Beck was able to come in on the final play and hand the ball off to Etienne who scampered his way into the endzone for the game-winning score.
“We felt like Carson can take a snap,” said Kirby in the post-game press conference following the overtime win over the Horns.
Georgia will have to turn to Rabun County native Gunnter Stockton for starting duties for the remainder of the season. Stockton rallied the Dawgs to victory over Texas in Atlanta.
“I think the biggest thing is just competition and practice,” Kirby told reporters Monday morning. “The situations we put him in. All those things allow him to get better as a quarterback.”
Beck likely ends his UGA career going 24-3 as a starter and with a career 7,912 yards passing, 58 touchdowns and 20 interceptions. Beck's career passing yards is 7th most all time at UGA - just behind Matthew Stafford's 7,944 yards. Beck's 4,058 total yards in 2023 and 3,556 in 2024 are 2nd and 4th all time at UGA.