Sources — Georgia QB Carson Beck plans to enter transfer portal

Georgia quarterback Carson Beck plans to enter the NCAA transfer portal, sources confirmed to ESPN on Thursday.

Beck had declared for the NFL draft on December 28, but is now reversing course and will investigate a transfer.

Sources told ESPN that Miami looms as the favorite for Beck, and the timeline for his decision is expected to play out within a week.

While Miami is the favorite for Beck, a source said Beck’s camp intends to listen to all potential suitors for the best situation: “It’s a strategic thing, not an emotional thing,” the source said.

Beck, a two-year starter at Georgia, is currently recovering from surgery to repair the ulnar collateral ligament in his throwing elbow after suffering the injury during the Bulldogs’ SEC championship win over Texas.

Beck won’t be able to throw until March, sources told ESPN, which would have complicated his NFL draft process and likely force him to miss spring practice at his next school. Sources said the variety of feedback he received from the draft process led to this decision, as he changed his mind within the last 24 hours. He was advised that if he could come back and wanted to, he should probably come back and play another season in college.

A source said Beck received feedback that he could end up anywhere between the first and third rounds, with much of that uncertainty due to the fact that he would not be able to pitch for a team in the predraft- training.

Despite that injury setback, Beck will immediately become the most coveted quarterback available as a late entry to the transfer market. While Miami emerges as the favorite, there are other big-name teams that could jump out as suitors, including Texas Tech and Notre Dame.

The 6-foot-4, 220-pound senior went 24-3 as the Bulldogs’ starter and was viewed as a potential No. 1 draft pick entering the 2024 season. He threw for 3,485 yards with 28 touchdowns and 12 interceptions this season and led Georgia back to the SEC title game.

Beck injured his elbow on the final play of the first half against Texas on December 7. The well-known orthopedic surgeon Dr. Neal ElAttrache performed Beck’s surgery on December 23 in Los Angeles.

“He wants to win,” said the source close to Beck. “He didn’t come back to get knocked out at halftime of a conference championship.”

Entering his fifth college season, Beck was considered a potential top-10 draft pick. ESPN’s Mel Kiper Jr. currently considers Beck the No. 1 quarterback. 5 in his draft rankings.

Miami has not added a transfer quarterback this offseason to succeed Cam Ward, the potential No. 1 pick. They have been quietly probing the transfer market in recent weeks, according to sources, as they have been keen to bring in a front-line starter who can produce straight away. Much like Ward did.

Ward made a similar decision last January, initially declaring for the NFL draft but changing his mind and switching to the Hurricanes after he was unhappy with his draft feedback. Ward finished fourth in the Heisman Trophy voting in his only season with the program after producing 4,313 passing yards and 43 total touchdowns.

On3 first reported Beck’s intentions to enter the portal.