Sources – Georgia QB Carson Beck enters transfer portal

Georgia quarterback Carson Baker has entered the NCAA transfer portal, sources confirmed to ESPN on Thursday.

Baker declared for the NFL draft on Dec. 28, but is now changing course and will consider transferring.

Sources told ESPN that Miami is Baker’s favorite and his decision is expected within a week.

While Miami is Baker’s favorite, a source said Baker’s camp intends to listen to all potential suitors for the best-case scenario: “It’s a strategic thing, not an emotional thing, “The source said.

Baker, a two-year starter at Georgia, is recovering from surgery to repair the ulnar collateral ligament in his throwing elbow after being injured in the Bulldogs’ SEC championship game victory over Texas.

Sources told ESPN that Baker won’t be able to pitch until March, which would complicate his NFL draft process and potentially force him to miss spring training at his next school. Sources said various feedback he received during the draft process led to the decision, as he changed his mind within the past 24 hours. The advice he received was that if he was able to return and wanted to, he should probably come back and play another season in college.

One source said Baker has received feedback that he could end up anywhere between the first and third rounds, with much of the uncertainty stemming from his inability to pitch for the ball in pre-draft workouts. team pitching.

Despite the injury setback, Baker will instantly become the most coveted quarterback available late on the transfer market. While Miami emerges as the favorite, there are other big-name teams that could be suitors, including Texas Tech and Notre Dame.

The 6-foot-4, 220-pound senior compiled a 24-3 record as the Bulldogs’ starter and was viewed as a potential No. 1 overall pick entering the 2024 season. He threw for 3,485 yards, 28 touchdowns and 12 interceptions this season, leading Georgia back to the SEC Championship Game.

On December 7, Baker suffered an elbow injury on the final play of the first half against Texas State. On December 23, famous orthopedic surgeon Neal ElAttrache performed surgery on Baker in Los Angeles.

“He wants to win,” a source close to Baker said. “He didn’t come back just to be knocked out at halftime of the conference championship game.”

Entering his fifth college season, Baker is viewed as a potential top-10 draft pick. ESPN’s Mel Kiper Jr. currently has Baker as the fifth quarterback in his draft rankings.

Miami has yet to add a transfer quarterback this offseason to replace potential No. 1 overall pick Cam Ward. According to sources, they have been quietly considering the transfer market in recent weeks as they are ready to bring in a first-line starter who can make an immediate impact, like Ward.

Ward made a similar decision last January, initially declaring for the NFL Draft, but changed his mind and transferred to the Hurricanes after being dissatisfied with draft feedback. Ward finished fourth in Heisman Trophy voting in his only season with the program, passing for 4,313 yards and 43 total touchdowns.

On3 first reported Baker’s intention to enter the portal.