Ready to Get Started

CORAL GABLES, Fla. – Carson Beck  hasn’t played football – real football – in months.

Sure, there have been offseason workouts and player-led throwing sessions with his new Miami teammates as he’s recovered from offseason elbow surgery.

But football, the kind where full pads are worn, hits are delivered and there’s a competitive sense of urgency, well, it’s been a minute.

“Since December 7^th,” Beck said simply on Wednesday. “It’s been a long time.”

Understandably, the quarterback is ready to get back on the field. He’ll have that opportunity on Thursday when the Hurricanes open preseason camp ahead of Miami’s highly anticipated Aug. 31 season opener against longtime rival Notre Dame.

And Beck – a transfer from Georgia – is just one of several experienced veterans that have joined the Miami program in recent months and will be looking to make a difference for the Hurricanes this season.

Joining the quarterback on offense are receivers CJ Daniels, an LSU transfer; Tony Johnson, a Cincinnati transfer and Keelan Marion, a BYU transfer. Also adding experience to the offensive side of the ball are tight end transfers Alex Bauman (Tulane) and Jack Nickel (UAB), as well as running back CharMar Brown (North Dakota State) and offensive lineman James Brockermeyer (TCU).

Defensively, the Hurricanes added linebackers Mohamed Toure, a Rutgers transfer and Kamal Bonner, an N.C. State transfer; cornerbacks Charles Brantley (Michigan State), Keionte Scott (Houston), Xavier Lucas (Wisconsin), and Ethan O’Connor (Washington State); safeties Jakobe Thomas (Tennessee) and Zechariah Poyser (Jacksonville State) and defensive lineman David Blay, Jr.  (Louisiana Tech).

The specialists, meanwhile, added kickers Bert Auburn (Texas) and Carter Davis (FAU) to their ranks, and together, all of Miami’s new additions are hoping their varied experiences and resumes will help the Hurricanes improve on last year’s 10-win season.

Each of them has seen the progress the program has made since head coach Mario Cristobal returned to lead his alma mater in 2021 and in their own ways, they’re eager to help the Hurricanes take the next step forward.

“Guys down here are football hungry,” said Marion, who hails from Atlanta and was an All-American kick returner at BYU last season. “Florida has a different breed of football players and why wouldn’t you want to come play for one of the best offenses in the nation, actually, the best offense in the nation.”

Added Bonner, “Being in the ACC, I saw a team that played very fast and physical all the time. And I feel like the way Coach Cristobal coaches these guys, he’ll make you a believer.”

Like Beck, Toure is eager to get back on the field after recovering from a serious injury.

The linebacker was voted a team captain at Rutgers ahead of last season and earned a spot on the Butkus Award watch list before tearing his ACL and being sidelined for the year.

It was a setback Toure confessed put him in “a dark place mentally,” especially given he’d already endured an ACL injury in 2022.

But with his rehab process now behind him, Toure says he’s ready for a fresh start in Miami – especially since he’s been reunited with Hurricanes defensive coordinator Corey Hetherman, who was his former linebackers coach at Rutgers.

“It’s been amazing because, like, outside of football, we have a real bond. When I was with him at Rutgers, we created a relationship and when we got back together here, it was still the same,” said Toure, who had 93 tackles and led the Scarlet Knights with 9.5 tackles for loss and 4.5 sacks in 2023. “We haven’t missed a beat, so I just love it, love being back with him. He’s like a father-figure to me and just being here with him, it helps a lot. …

“And his defense, it’s exciting, honestly. It’s exciting. It’s explosive. It’s going to put you in position to make plays, put you in places to create opportunities for all the pieces on the field. He knows what he has, and he knows how to use [everyone] and their strengths to win.”

While all of Miami’s newest additions will be looking to make a difference this year, it’s likely Beck will be under the most scrutiny all season long.

And the quarterback understands that – embraces it, even.

In his five seasons at Georgia, he led the Bulldogs to a 24-3 record in the 27 games he started. He threw for 7,912 yards and 58 touchdowns. And last season, before getting hurt in the SEC Championship Game, he threw for 3,485 yards and 28 touchdowns.

The Bulldogs went on to win the SEC title and advanced to the College Football Playoff, though Beck didn’t play in Georgia’s 23-10 loss to Notre Dame in the Sugar Bowl.

Now, after being fully cleared to get back to throwing earlier this year, he’s ready to get to work at Miami – and is confident he can keep the Hurricanes’ offense moving much the way former quarterback Cam Ward did in his single season at Miami last year.

“I’ve played a lot of football and played in a lot of big-time games. … I think my experience will help a lot and it gives me a lot of confidence,” Beck said. “I set very high expectations for myself. I don’t think anybody could ever set an expectation on me that I haven’t already set on myself at a higher standard. … Being here, now, I’m just excited to get to work with these guys and then ultimately, play throughout the season, just enjoy and have fun.”

And though he wasn’t able to fully participate during spring drills – a time period Beck called “torture” and “emotionally taxing” because of his limitations – the quarterback made it a point to try and connect with his teammates since his arrival on campus in January.

The Hurricanes say those connections have made a difference.

On Wednesday, running back Mark Fletcher Jr. shared that during a drill earlier this week, Beck pulled him aside and taught him a new approach to a particular play. And offensive lineman Francis Mauigoa noted that more than once, he’s watched as Beck has coached teammates and helped them improve their techniques, routes, or throws.

All of that, Mauigoa said, has helped the quarterback establish himself as one of Miami’s leaders.

Now, it’s time to see him fully in action.

“He’s always in the film room. That’s one way, you know, to gain my confidence. He’s always in the film room. He’s always asking questions about protections and whatnot. He’s always been everywhere,” Mauigoa said. “We’ve been talking to receivers, or whenever one of the other QBs throws something wrong, he’s always back there talking to them. … he knows everything and that’s what’s gained my confidence, how he goes about his stuff. … I’m really excited. I’m 100 percent excited for [Thursday] and to see him doing great things.”

For his part, Beck is ready to get started. So, too, are his fellow transfers.

On Thursday, they’ll finally have their chance.

“I’m ready to get on that field. It’s been a long offseason, long summer, right? Obviously, that’s necessary to the process of ultimately getting to the games,” Beck said. “But now, we finally get to play football and I’m ready.”

Added Toure, “I can’t wait. I haven’t played in a game in so long and I’m just ready to play football and practice, honestly. I’m just ready for practice one. … I thank God every day for putting me in this place with these amazing people. … I’m looking forward to this season.”