Popular CFB analyst names “widely considered top quarterback” in contention for 2024 Heisman Trophy, and it's not Jalen Milroe

Popular college football analyst Jesse Simonton of On3 has named the quarterback he thinks will be the favorite to win the 2024 Heisman trophy. Although many fans think Shedeur Sanders and Jalen Milroe could be the front-runners, Simonton thinks Georgia's Carson Beck should be the favorite.

Beck is back for his second season as the starting QB of the Bulldogs, and Simonton thinks he will have plenty of success this season.

"Although there is no undisputed frontrunner in 2024, Beck does enter the season widely considered the top quarterback in the country — which gives the Bulldogs’ signal-caller a head-start in the competition. In his first season as a starter, Beck threw for nearly 4,000 yards with 28 touchdowns, six picks and an adjusted completion percentage of 80.1," Simonton said, via SI.

"He’ll be surrounded by even more talent in this fall (both OL and playmakers) and is the QB1 for the No. 1 team in the country, which will give Beck the type of resume to seriously contend for a spot in NYC," Simonton added.

The Bulldogs are among the favorites to win the national championship, so if they do go undefeated, Beck's case to win the Heisman will be strong.

Last season, Beck went 302-for-417 for 3,941 yards, 24 touchdowns and six interceptions.

Kirby Smart eager to let Carson Beck fly in 2024

Georgia Bulldogs head coach Kirby Smart admits he tried to protect Carson Beck too much early on, which hindered the quarterback's play.

Smart says entering 2024, they plan on letting Beck loose and expect that will translate to a solid 2024 season.

“Early in the year last season, we probably did try to protect him too much,” Smart said, via DawgNation. “But then you see nothing ever really affects him and know you’ve just got to let the cat go play because we were either going to make it or not make it on his back. As the year went on, he got better and better, but we were probably a little too slow with him out of the gate.”

Beck is currently the favorite to win the Heisman at +800, just ahead of Quinn Ewers at +900, according to DraftKings. At +800, oddsmakers give Beck an 11.1% chance of winning the award.