Jalen Milroe is always a threat to break loose for a long run or uncork a deep ball whenever the defense leaves an opening — or he creates one. Carson Beck is a big-game veteran who makes few mistakes and could well wind up being the No. 1 NFL draft pick.
Now, the two quarterbacks are set to meet for Round 2 on Saturday night when Beck leads No. 2 Georgia against Milroe and fourth-ranked Alabama. It’s a rematch of last season’s Southeastern Conference Championship Game won by Milroe & Co.
The SEC's two most ballyhooed returning quarterbacks — Quinn Ewers and Texas were in the Big 12 last season — have lived up to their billing so far. And the opposing coaches are well aware of the challenges they present. Beck is 16-1 as a starting quarterback and 6-1 against top 20 teams, throwing for 1,971 yards and 15 touchdowns against just two interceptions in those games against ranked opponents.
“I think their quarterback, Carson Beck, is as good as it comes in college football right now,” Alabama defensive coordinator Kane Wommack said. Likewise, Georgia coach Kirby Smart said sometimes even the right way to defend can prove wrong against Milroe. It's the dual-threat whammy presented by a player capable of big plays both ways.
“With him, the challenges are immense because he’s an incredible football player,” Smart said. "There is no design to a play that you can draw up and then say, ‘Well, I’m pretty sure this is going to happen on this play,’ with him becau.