National Signing Day is this week. Georgia had the number one recruiting class heading into the final week, according to 247Sports. Although the Bulldogs boast a deep and talented class, a significant prospect from the Class of 2024 has opted not to sign with them. In our first of a few stories breaking down the class, we will start with social media buzzing around Georgia’s quarterback situation in 2024. As my mama always said, let’s tackle the tough news before diving into the positive stuff. So, here we go.
Who Wants To Be Georgia’s Quarterback?
Raiola a Husker
Dylan Raiola made a (un)surprising announcement on Twitter Monday night that he was de-committing from Georgia and will be signing with Nebraska this week. Raiola’s (poetic) decision enables him to be “no longer a cog in some powerhouse machine” but instead “fulfill his purpose, where a new dynasty entrails.” The move was far from surprising; Raiola’s potential departure started last week when rumors swirled he had a change of heart. It was all but confirmed when he visited Nebraska this weekend. Hats off to Husker head coach Matt Rhule for stepping up his social media game this weekend as he tries to inject new life into a once-proud program that has missed seven straight bowls.
For Raiola, Nebraska made sense from the start. He has close connections with his father, an alum, and his uncle, who is currently on staff as the offensive line coach. From an NIL perspective, he stands to benefit as well. He is arguably the program’s biggest recruit in the last 20+ years and will likely have the opportunity to be QB1 heading into the 2024 season, something he would not have been able to do at Georgia.
Carson Beck: QB1 in 2024
It wasn’t all bad news Monday night for Georgia. The Bulldogs put out an announcement (45 minutes before Raiola’s Tweet) that Carson Beck would be returning in 2024.
“My friends and family have helped put me in a situation to have options for my future. However, the NFL can wait one more year. I am returning to UGA for my senior season.
We need everyone's support in Miami to close this season out the right way!”–@carsonbeck01 #GoDawgs pic.twitter.com/O3Mm7OXmZg
— Georgia Football (@GeorgiaFootball) December 18, 2023
Beck’s comeback brings positivity to Georgia fans, marking the first uplifting development since their defeat by Alabama in the SEC Championship game two weeks ago. Since the transfer portal opened the Monday after the defeat, 16 players from the 2023 team have entered the portal, many with former four- and five-star ratings. Having Beck return as the starting quarterback for the second year in a row not only gives fans something to get excited about but will bring essential stability to the 2024 schedule, which is expected to be more challenging than the relatively more straightforward matchups the team encountered in 2023.
In his debut season as Georgia’s starting quarterback in 2023, Beck delivered a standout performance. He earned recognition as a Coaches All-SEC Second Team selection and was a finalist for the Manning Award. Notably, he secured the fourth spot nationally in passing yards with 3,738 while ranking sixth in completion percentage at .724. Furthermore, Beck threw 22 touchdowns and only 6 interceptions, solidifying his impressive contributions.
The Legend of Ryan Puglisi
Georgia will not be without a quarterback in the Class of 2024. Raiola may be off to Lincoln, but Ryan Puglisi will enroll in January to join Georgia’s quarterback room. Puglisi is a multi-sport athlete out of Avon Old Farms in Connecticut. While he may not be as polished as Raiola, the scouting report shows promise. “Comfortable throwing on run and accurate when the pocket is moved. Able to extend plays while keeping eyes downfield, composed under pressure, and moves onto next play quickly.” The young quarterback also endeared himself with fans, signing his letter of intent the day after the Raiola news broke about his eyes wandering toward Nebraska.
#UGA QB commit @RyanPuglisi5 celebrated with teammates and family last night at his signing celebration. He will be in #Athens in 6 days. @DawgsHQ pic.twitter.com/Zg4QaMO6qh
— Rusty Mansell (@RustyMansell_) December 12, 2023
Puglisi made a commitment to Kirby Smart and Georgia in October 2022. Despite Raiola announcing his commitment to Georgia in May, Puglisi remained steadfast and rejected offers from other schools that approached him after he had already committed to Georgia. While the jury is still out on whether he will ever take a snap, let alone lead Georgia to victory on the field one day, Puglisi’s commitment to Georgia won him many accolades with the Bulldog faithful.
Stockton Moves Up in Georgia’s Quarterback Room
Puglisi will join a talented quarterback room when he arrives on campus. With Brock Vandagriff off to Kentucky, Gunner Stockton will likely serve as the backup to Beck in the Orange Bowl. The Redshirt Freshman saw limited action in 2023, completing six of nine passes. The Tiger, a Georgia native, was a four-start commit in the Class of 2022 and the seventh-ranked quarterback.
Photo courtesy: Joshua L. Jones / USA TODAY NETWORK
