JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Mandarin High graduate Carson Beck is headed to the Arizona Cardinals as the first pick of the third round and Trinity Christian Austin Barber went later to the Cleveland Browns on a solid night for locals in the NFL draft.
Beck was the 65th pick and goes into an Arizona team where he’ll have an opportunity to compete for the starting job with Jacoby Brissett and Gardner Minshew.
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Barber, a University of Florida product, went at pick No. 86. The offensive tackle becomes the highest-drafted player from Trinity Christian, moving past safety Guss Scott (95th in 2004 to the Patriots).
Beck played at Providence and committed to Alabama in baseball as a sophomore before transferring to Mandarin and showcasing immense potential in football. He signed with the University of Georgia and won a pair of national championships as a backup.
He transferred to the University of Miami for his final season in 2025 and led the Hurricanes to the national championship game where they lost in a 27-21 thriller to Indiana.
Fernando Mendoza (first to the Raiders) and Ty Simpson (a surprise pick at No. 13 by the Rams) put Beck in play earlier than expected.
Beck becomes just the sixth quarterback who graduated from a school in the News4JAX coverage region to be selected in the NFL draft. Stetson Bennett of Pierce County went to the Rams in the fourth round in 2023. Bolles star Mac Jones was the last player from a city high school to be drafted. Jones went 15th to the Patriots in 2021.
Beck is the sixth Mandarin product to be drafted. Sam Cowart and Fred Weary (both were selected in 1998) were the first Mustangs alums drafted. DeMario Douglas, Beck’s favorite receiver during his 2018 championship season, was the last Mandarin player drafted (2023).
Local QBs to be selected in NFL draft
Position, Player, Local tie, Round, Pick, Year
QB, Mac Jones, Bolles, 1, 15, 2021
QB, Tim Tebow, Nease, 1, 25, 2010
QB, Carson Beck, Mandarin, 3, 65, 2026
QB, Stetson Bennett, Pierce County, 4, 128, 2023
QB, Nathan Peterman, Bartram Trail, 5, 171, 2017
QB, Rusty Smith, Sandalwood, 6, 176, 2010