ATHENS — Carson Beck has mastered the art of blocking outside noise, and now he’s benefitting from hearing voices inside of his helmet.
The Georgia quarterback is a big fan -- and likely great benefactor -- of the new rule in college football that will allow for coaches to communicate with one player on offense, and defense, via radio communication until there is 15 seconds left on the play clock.
“Absolutely, because I’m able to get the play even faster now; the guys are looking at the sideline and I’m hearing the play and I’m already trying to dissect,” said Beck, the nation’s leading returning passer and protected top pick in the 2025 NFL Draft.
“I’m watching the defense get set up, and I”m hearing the play in my mind, so those thoughts can come even quicker.”
Beck’s first chance to utilize the technology in a regular-season game takes place at noon on Saturday when Georgia plays Clemson in a noon game.
The Bulldogs’ pass game will be under the microscope, re-tooled with new targets after stars Brock Bowers and Ladd McConkey took their talents to the NFL.
Beck’s ability to process coverages and pick apart a defense with his golden arm have been well-documented even before the inclusion of this new rule, which has been in effect for quarterbacks in the NFL since 1994.
“On offense, it’s seismic,” said Nebraska coach Matt Ruhle, who’s expected to start former true freshman and former UGA commit Dylan Raiola at quarterback.
“You are able to remind the quarterback not just of the play but also the situation. Just the thought process, right? ‘Hey, it’s third and 7, two downs, take the check down if it’s there and it gives us fourth and 3.’”
Beck, a fifth-year quarterback, doesn’t figure to benefit from such remedial messaging as much as he will the added time he’ll have to diagnose defensive schemes and personnel.
“Sometimes when you’d get the play a little late there’s 15 seconds on the (play-) clock or 12 seconds, and against this defense I need to check, but we don’t have enough time to check it and need to run the (original) play,” Beck explained, “so being able to watch the defense lets me start thinking about things that maybe I couldn’t have in the past a little bit quicker.”
Beck, as a second-year starter, has the trust of his coaches and the knowledge of the offense to take advantage of the new technology and make key adjustments when the situation dictates he do so.
“I think there’s always parameters of our offense, whether that’s checking a play, or checking a protection, or if we’re in this play and we want to go to that play,” Beck said.
“…. but I definitely feel very confident in what we do and our plan, and what Coach (Mike) Bobo has called, he does a great job at looking at a defense and finding certain plays and ways to get the ball to guys.”
One of the most important ways is to have pre-determined checks set up for Beck to go to depending on the defensive look and personnel.
Beck made it clear he has a comfort level doing just that in most every situation.
“For me personally, just being able to play loose and play free, because I do understand the offense like the back of my hand,” Beck said. “Every play that’s called, I understand exactly where I need to go with the ball against a certain coverage, I understand what play I need to check to.”
And now, with radio helmet technology, Beck plans to come to such understandings faster, and with greater efficiency.