Miami has been at a crossroads with its $4 million venture from last winter’s portal. Carson Beck, the former Georgia QB, is showing every sign of being the future locker room leader of the Canes, filling in Ward’s shoes. Beck has been doing everything throughout the spring, from watching and assimilating films and studying offenses to building relationships and guiding youngsters. But the past curse is still lingering. Despite Mario Cristobal focusing on the silver lining all along, fans struggle to trust Beck’s health, which is still not 100 percent good to go for the redemption UM is vying for. But it seems the dark clouds are drifting away from the Magic City.
Carson Beck has been the face of controversy last season. Thanks to his tumultuous season, filled with injuries and errors under the center. You couldn’t really unsee the way Beck has begged for relief during those brutally devastating matchups against Florida, Alabama, etc. Adding to all the wrong decisions, missed easy throws, mental slump, drop in yardage, and completion percentage, he has doubled the number of interceptions (12) of his total in the breakout 2023. However, if you rewind to a season back, you would see a different Beck who led the Bulldogs to an undefeated regular season in 2023 and led the Dawgs to two consecutive trips to the SEC Championship.
However, when things started to get better, a UCL injury during the 2024 SEC Championship abruptly ended his Dawgs stint. It ultimately led to his entrance into the transfer portal, specifically to the Canes. All eyes, ever since, are hooked on his off-season healing progress. Cristobal, in a conversation with the ACC network, dished some good news. “He looks great, he’s been throwing the ball and just looks Normal,” the head coach added, “He looks even better than normal, he feels like he’s just about there, and we start our entire team workouts, we report on Sunday, we start on Monday, and he is clear to do everything. So exciting times for him and our football team.”
Cristobal blamed the Georgia offense for not providing the room to thrive for Beck. The Miami head coach believes his new offensive gun is extremely hard on himself, a quintessential quality of an elite quarterback. His athleticism stands out even amidst the despair. His strong leadership speaks of the hold he has over the game. Although it’s skeptical how Miami, with a relatively inexperienced receiving corps, can chisel the best out of Beck, Cristobal is holding on tight to his defense.
Miami isn’t just betting the dime on their offense. Their defense is standing on the verge of a makeover as well. Blame goes to the new defensive coordinator, former Minnesota staff, Corey Hetherman.
Miami is going strong and steady under the new DC hire
Just a year ago, Miami’s defense showed flashes of promise but struggled with consistency when it mattered most. On paper, the Hurricanes finished the 2023 season allowing just 321.8 total yards per game — good enough for a top-30 national ranking. Yet their numbers failed to tell the full story. During a critical six-game stretch to close out the season, Miami dropped four contests, often buckling late against ACC opponents and failing to generate stops in high-leverage moments.
The Canes gave up more than 30 points, including that cursed Syracuse game. However, 2025 brought new hope as the team moved on from Lance Guidry to Corey Hetherman. Cristobal had to take him from Minnesota with a six-digit buyout and keep him hooked on his team with an annual $1 million.
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