Kirby Smart "Proud" Of the Play of Georgia's Quarterbacks in Win Over UT-Martin

Despite lack of fireworks, Georgia Head Coach Kirby Smart was complimentary of Georgia's quarterback play in the team's season-opener against UT-Martin.

After Stetson Bennett led Georgia to consecutive national championships and, in the process, earned himself an invite to New York as a Heisman Trophy finalist, all eyes were on Georgia's new signal caller Carson Beck when the Bulldogs kicked off the 2023 season against UT-Martin on Saturday night. Following Georgia's 48-7 season-opening win, Georgia Head Coach Kirby Smart met with the media and praised Beck for his performance in his first collegiate start.

The redshirt junior from Jacksonville, Florida patiently bided his time over the course of his first three seasons in Athens and delivered a strong 21/31, 294 yard, one touchdown performance in his debut as Georgia's starting quarterback, earning applause from his head coach. 

"I was very proud of Carson [Beck] in his first start. I thought he had great composure - really that was almost the epitome of every scrimmage he had," Smart said. "He threw the ball away when he had to, he hit the spots when he had to, he made good decisions, he did not put us at risk, he made good checks, he did some really good things, and I am really proud of him. We've got to get some more help around him, weapons and get some guys healthy, but proud of what he did."

Georgia QB Carson Beck (15) leads his team out of the tunnel ahead of his first collegiate start against UT-Martin inside Sanford Stadium on Saturday, Sep. 2

Any time a quarterback is making his first start in front of nearly 100,000 fans nerves can often be a factor, but Smart was impressed with the demeanor of his new starting quarterback on Saturday night.

"I never thought he [Beck] wasn't comfortable. There was a poise about him. There were really only two throws I wish he had back. The overthrow to Arian that was really long and Arian got behind the defense. And then the third down but he should've executed that."

As pleased as Smart was with Beck's play against UT-Martin, he was not alone among Georgia's quarterbacks in earning praise from their head coach, as Smart expressed excitement over the growth and performances of both Brock Vandagriff and Gunner Stockton.

"Yeah, I thought both of them [Vandagriff and Stockton] got to play. It was important to let them play and not sit there and hand the ball off," Smart said. "Gunner's group didn't execute as well as they should have. And he made some plays running with his feet. Brock's group got holdings and that cost him one series that he played well. Just kind of self-inflicted wounds around him we can't have. Then he came out and had another good series. Both of those guys look guys, they continue to get better. I am so pleased with their progress and what they're doing. We're at such a good position there. You only saw 6 or 7 plays of them. I've probably seen 20 or 30 of them. I feel really good about each day they get better."

Georgia redshirt sophomore QB Brock Vandagriff impressed in his two series leading the Georgia offense in the second half of the team's season opener against UT-Martin

When Vandagriff and Stockton got their opportunities to play, the game was already well out of hand, but rather than just asking the young quarterbacks to turn around and hand the ball off in an attempt to put the game on ice, Smart and Offensive Coordinator Mike Bobo gave them legitimate opportunities to throw the football and lead their units on scoring drives. According to Smart, that decision wasn't reflective of a philosophical change in how the Bulldogs approach the end of blow-out games, rather it was more related to the ongoing competition between Vandagriff and Stockton for Georgia's No.2 quarterback designation. 

"I've always stood by it. It's just been times that the game was too far out of hand or maybe it was the third quarterback and not the second quarterback," Smart said. "The third quarterback is sometimes farther away and we've got a battle at two. We need to see who is going to play if something happens to Carson. Those two guys are neck and neck and we want to give those two guys the opportunity to play. Last year was a little different because Carson needed to come in and play and Brock didn't always get those opportunities. We want to see Brock and Gunner both go in and play and play within the offense. Because that's where you see their mistakes and flaws or their strengths and their weaknesses."

While Georgia's offense stalled at times against UT-Martin, especially in the first half, Georgia's quarterbacks largely played well and, in the process, pleased their demanding head coach.