Beck continues to impress at quarterback as Canes improve to 3-0
The Miami Hurricanes had a first-round pick at quarterback last season in Cam Ward, and they might have another in the 2026 NFL Draft in Carson Beck.
Just ask Miami running back Mark Fletcher Jr., who spoke to the media following fifth-ranked Miami’s 49-12 win against 18th-ranked South Florida on Saturday at Hard Rock Stadium.
“I’m not even trying to be funny when I say this, but the only difference between [Ward and Beck] is their skin color,” Fletcher said. “They are both Alphas. They are both leaders, very high football IQ.
“We’ve been blessed to have had two great quarterbacks in this program [the past two years].”
One might argue that Ward — who led Miami to a 10-3 record last year and the No. 1 offense in the nation — is a more elusive runner and a pass-first player. Beck, meanwhile, is thriving with a run-heavy offense and play-action passes.
But Fletcher’s quote is accurate in this respect: Both Ward — the No. 1 overall pick in this year’s NFL Draft — and Beck are winners.
In fact, Beck has led Miami to a 3-0 start with two wins against top-20 teams. Further, Beck, a transfer from Georgia, is 27-3 in his college career as a starting quarterback.
Beck was incredibly efficient Saturday as he completed 23 of 28 passes for 340 yards and three touchdowns. There were also two interceptions (more on that in a minute).
In addition, Beck showed something new, at least in his brief Miami tenure, as he rushed for 28 yards, one touchdown and two first downs.
“He’s a big guy [6-4, 225 pounds] who can flat out run,” Miami coach Mario Cristobal said. “He’s done that [running] his entire career, and it adds to our offensive package.
“The guy is a winner, and he can hurt you in so many ways.”
Entering Saturday, Beck had just two carries for -2 yards this year. And he had only 71 rushing yards in 13 games last year with Georgia.
But Beck said his running on Saturday was due to what Miami had seen out of USF’s defense.
“Watching film, we knew [USF] was going to blitz the edges and crash hard to try to defeat our running game,” Beck said. “It created some opportunities for me to use my legs and also extend plays in the passing game. It’s what [the game plan] called for, and I’m glad I was able to showcase that.”
As for the two interceptions — his first turnovers of the season — Beck was clearly not thrilled.
“Somebody had to ask it,” Beck said of the question.
Beck then explained that the first pick, in the final minute of the first half, USF showed one deep safety before moving to a “Cover 2” defense. Beck tried to hit wide receiver CJ Daniels “in a tight window,” but the ball got picked.
“I probably didn’t need to throw it,” Beck said. “I was trying to get a touchdown at the end of the half to put the game away.”
On the second interception, the ball went off the hands of Miami wide receiver Malachi Toney. The only problem was that the ball was not intended for Toney … except that the star freshman jumped and made a spectacular attempt.
“I didn’t know Malachi had a 50-inch vertical,” joked Beck, who was only slightly exaggerating. “He jumped up and tried to snag it, and the ball got tipped. It happens, but you never want to turn the ball over.”
Despite those two miscues, the Hurricanes are surely thrilled with Beck, who in three games has completed 79.3 percent of his passes for 812 yards and seven touchdowns.
Beck said he’s not going to “give away his secret sauce” as to how he prepares, but he has raved about Miami’s talent throughout the roster.
“There’s no weak link, and that’s for three rows down,” Beck said. “It’s awesome for me because my success is very dependent on dudes around me, and those dudes work their tails off.
“It’s been a lot of fun this year.”
Just like it was last year for Ward.
Beck or Ward, Ward or Beck, the Hurricanes are once again getting quality play at quarterback.
“I’m a Florida boy at heart,” said Beck, a Jacksonville native. “Just being here with these guys, I just fit in and meshed with them off the rip. These are my people, and these coaches have allowed me to be free and do my thing.”
This story was originally published September 14, 2025 at 12:41 AM.