Carson Beck, a quarterback from the University of Miami, is thrilled at the prospect of being drafted by the Cleveland Browns. The Browns already have three quarterbacks on their roster, and they drafted two more last year. However, Beck's unique situation makes him an intriguing prospect for the team.
Beck spent three years playing under new Browns coach Todd Monken at the University of Georgia. During those years, Beck developed a strong relationship with Monken, who was the offensive coordinator for 34 of Beck's games. In those games, Beck passed for 7,736 yards with 56 touchdowns and 18 interceptions. Monken's influence on Beck's development is evident in his success on the field.
Beck's enthusiasm for the Browns is palpable. He says, "I love him personally. I've known him since I was 7 or 8 years old. I played baseball with his son whenever he was the wide receivers coach with the Jags. That's cool. I've been able to have a really good relationship with him over the years, and obviously at Georgia, he taught me a lot of what I know. He's an amazing coach. I had the opportunity to talk with him a little bit the other day when I was done with all my interviews. We walked and chatted for a little bit. I love Coach Monk. He's an awesome coach and great guy."
Beck's formal interview with the Browns is just one of many he has had. He has also met with the New York Jets, Pittsburgh Steelers, and Miami Dolphins, among others. Despite the competition, Beck's eagerness to play for the Browns is evident.
"That would obviously be super cool," Beck said. "Any team that's going to draft me, I'm super grateful for the opportunity, but if coach Monken were to be my coach again, obviously I really enjoyed him being my coach at the University of Georgia, and what I was able learn from him there. So, I'd be super stoked."
Beck's college career spanned six seasons, during which he passed for 11,725 yards with 88 touchdowns and 32 interceptions. His journey has been a challenging one, but he is grateful for the experiences he has had along the way. "It's been a super cool journey," he says. "Obviously, it feels like I was in college forever, but again, everybody's path is different. I'm truly blessed and grateful that my path went the way it did. It's a lot easier to say that looking back at it now, but you're in the middle of a grind of a season or you're in the middle the rehab and I can't throw a football for four months, and you don't know what your future is going to look like. To get to this point, and to have the injury and battle through that and fight through that, and have the success of some of these great teams I've been a part of it, it's been a really cool experience. I'm obviously super blessed and grateful to even be able to stand in front of you today."
Beck's unique relationship with Monken and his eagerness to play for the Browns make him an intriguing prospect for the team. Will the Browns draft him? Only time will tell, but Beck is certainly hoping for the best.
