The eyebrow-raising comments on UM’s Carson Beck and what to make of them. And Canes notes
Several Miami Hurricanes players have raved about new quarterback Carson Beck and the bond he has built with them.
He famously invited a group of UM teammates to his house for a Super Bowl party subsequently has spent extra time in the film room with them.
“He’s definitely a leader,” sophomore tight end Elija Lofton said.
Added junior running back Mark Fletcher Jr.: “He’s just a cool guy. Very humble.”
Those comments came to mind this week in the wake of eyebrow-raising remarks by ESPN and Sirius XM analyst Aaron Murray, who, like Beck, also was a standout quarterback at Georgia.
In a recent appearance on an On3 football podcast, Murray questioned Beck’s ability to build relationships in the locker room, which is viewed as particularly important for quarterbacks.
“He needs to learn to play within himself, play a mature style of football,” Murray said before the remarks turned interesting. “Speaking of the word mature — that’s the biggest red flag for me. Where is he in the maturity factor?
“In the locker room at Georgia, there was some disconnect between Carson and his teammates. There wasn’t this guy that was a true locker room guy. That’s why guys rallied around [Georgia backup] Gunner Stockton. There was a little more belief in him. I’m not saying [Beck] is a bad, evil person. But there were possible character flaws that you heard in locker room.
“Then you’re seeing nonsense on TikTok, girlfriend stuff. It’s too much mess. For a guy that’s going to be 23, 24, I need you focusing on football. You are on a brand new team, you’re coming off an elbow injury. I don’t need you in the media other than, ‘I’m throwing 5, 10, 20 yards today. I’m progressing.’ Not TikTok news, girlfriend news.
“There is a sense of maturity, who he is as a human when it comes to the locker room, that is carrying over [from] Athens to Coral Gables, that has me worried a little bit. But from a talent standpoint, there’s no doubt Carson is a gifted passer of the football.”
Murray’s comments carry weight because of his ties to the Georgia program and likelihood that the information — at least parts of it — are credible. But if locker room dynamics and leadership were an issue in Athens, Beck seems intent on not making it an issue at Miami. Hosting a Super Bowl gathering was a good start.
With regard to the TikTok comments, Murray seems to be injecting Beck into something he had no direct role in. Following Beck’s spring breakup with former UM basketball player and social media star Hanna Cavinder, her sister Haley made unflattering comments about Beck that were posted on a social media account operated by Kai Trump, President Trump’s granddaughter.
All of this pales in comparison to what’s happening on the field, where Beck — by all accounts — is looking good and back throwing fully after offseason elbow surgery.
“There are a lot of people very high on his skill set, size and what he projects to the next level,” Murray said. “He’s 6-5, 235, great arm, can throw with touch, can throw with anticipation, can push the ball vertically down the field.. He checks off most of the boxes.
“Last year, at times he was pressing. At times he felt he had to be Superman. That’s what caused interceptions and mistakes. He needs to learn to play within himself, play a mature style of football.”
Last season, Beck led the Southeastern Conference in both touchdown passes (28) and interceptions (12).
Big recruiting weekend
UM, already with a consensus top 12 recruiting class for 2026, has 17 recruits scheduled for visits this weekend, including two five-star prospects: Baton Rouge (Louisiana) University Lab defensive lineman Lamar Brown and Hattiesburg (Miss.) receiver Tristen Keys, an LSU commit who will be visiting UM for the third time.
Brown, who visited UM earlier this year, is considering Miami, Texas, Texas A&M and LSU.
Other high-end 2026 prospects scheduled to visit UM this weekend, among others, include Sarasota Booker High’s Chauncey Kennon, ranked by 247 as the nation’s No. 2 cornerback and No. 27 overall prospect and Cornelius (North Carolina) Hough High’s Samari Matthews, rated by 247 as the No. 12 cornerback prospect.
▪ On the field, expectations should be somewhat measured for receiver CJ Daniels, considering he was LSU’s No. 4 receiver last season. Daniels should play, and will help, but expecting big numbers might be unrealistic.
But Daniels’ experience has added tangible value to the room. Here’s exactly how it has played out in a receiver room in which every other receiver was a freshman or sophomore before the additions of Keelan Marion (BYU) and Tony Johnson (Cincinnati) in recent weeks.
Freshman receiver Malachi Toney said Daniels “gathers us for tape watching after we practice.” And that’s not all.
“After practice, around 5 or 6, he will text us in group chat to meet us up to watch film. And he’ll get us on the jugs machine some days.”
Even if Daniels produces only decent numbers this season, that mentorship is critical in a room where a veteran, like Daniels or Johnson, is needed to lead the way.
▪ From the ex-Canes portal file: Defensive lineman Elias Rudolph transferred to UNLV and offensive lineman Frankie Tinilau transferred to East Tennessee State.
This story was originally published May 28, 2025 at 2:41 PM.
