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Could Georgia transfer QB Carson Beck wind up with Texas Tech football? Does it make sense?
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- Could Georgia transfer QB Carson Beck wind up with Texas Tech football? Does it make sense?
Joey McGuire has not hesitated in making big moves to help the Texas Tech football team succeed this offseason. But this one might take the cake.
On3 and ESPN reported Thursday that Georgia quarterback Carson Beck is headed to the transfer portal, nixing his previous announcement that he was headed to the 2025 NFL Draft. Not only is Beck headed elsewhere, but both outlets reported that Texas Tech is among potential suitors for his services.
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Beck underwent surgery after tearing the ulnar collateral ligament in his throwing elbow during the SEC Championship game against Texas. ESPN's report states his recovery timeline was one of the reasons Beck decided against going pro and opting to return to college.
Miami, Notre Dame and Ohio State are also listed as teams to watch in the Beck sweepstakes. Texas Tech is the only team of these four noted schools expected to have its 2024 starting quarterback return in 2025.
This begs the question: Does this make any sense?
Looking at Texas Tech football 's quarterback situation
The Red Raiders currently have five quarterbacks on the roster heading into the 2025 spring season. This includes returning starter Behren Morton , Liberty Bowl starter Will Hammond , Wake Forest transfer Mitch Griffis and incoming freshmen Lloyd Jones III and preferred walk-on Holden Phillips.
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Morton underwent shoulder surgery after the regular season and Jones suffered an injury during his high school season. Morton said in his statement announcing the surgery he was looking to "fully rehab this spring and be ready for the start of summer workouts." Jones suffered an injury during his high school season.
More: Texas Tech football transfer portal tracker: Red Raiders round things out with a kicker
The addition of Frenship product Phillips in late December was a byproduct of uncertainty with QB depth for spring ball. Jones will be a spring enrollee but his status is unknown.
Back on Dec. 4, Joey McGuire said he would like to have four quarterbacks on the roster for 2025.
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"We don't want an older quarterback unless he's comfortable being a backup to a backup," McGuire said. "We feel great about our one and two. ..."
Carson Beck #15 of the Georgia Bulldogs throws the ball during the second quarter against the Tennessee Volunteers at Sanford Stadium on November 16, 2024 in Athens, Georgia.
Would Texas Tech football adding Georgia transfer QB Carson Beck make sense?
ESPN's Pete Thamel went on the Pat McAfee Show on Thursday after posting his report online and provided some more context for Tech's involvement with Beck, noting Miami as the frontrunner.
"Texas Tech has been pushing hard for a starting quarterback as well," Thamel said. "I think that they could loom in the background here, too."
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According to Thamel, Beck won't be able to resume throwing until March, around the time most teams are gearing up or in the middle of their spring practices. Thamel said teams could adjust their spring timelines to work around Beck's availability.
McGuire hasn't been shy about upgrading any position he feels is needed, but Texas Tech is one of the few teams in the country that doesn't have that much of an issue. Morton was the first Tech quarterback to pass for over 3,000 yards since 2017 and ended the regular season 10th in passing yards (3,335).
Unless Texas Tech doesn't know if Morton will for sure be ready to go by preseason practice, and there's been no indication of that yet, adding Beck feels like a splashy move for the sake of making a splashy move.
More: Carson Beck landing spots: Miami leads possible destinations for Georgia QB in transfer portal
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Should the House vs. NCAA settlement be approved in April, programs will have until July 1 to enter into the current structure of NIL deals before all deals over $600 have to be approved by a clearinghouse, which is intended to make sure athlete compensation reaches fair market value. A projected Top 5 NFL pick before the 2024 season, Beck is sure to garner a lucrative payday wherever he goes, and Tech's NIL collective, The Matador Club, has been heavily active on the transfer market to improve the team.
Beck could improve the team, but how much is the question. And bringing in Beck would surely ruffle some feathers, namely Morton and Hammond.
It's also possible Texas Tech is being used as leverage for Beck's representatives. Throwing the Red Raiders and their known spending habits into the ring, whether they're heavily or modestly involved, could drive up the asking price for Miami or Ohio State.
Odds Texas Tech football winds up with Carson Beck
Given everything, it's hard to see how Texas Tech will be that heavily involved with getting Beck. It could very well be a power play from the Red Raiders. It could just as easily be a maneuver from Beck's team to generate a perceived bidding war.
Anything's possible, but Carson-Beck-to-Texas-Tech seems unlikely.
This article originally appeared on Lubbock Avalanche-Journal: Texas Tech football reportedly linked to Georgia QB Carson Beck
