Mario Cristobal gives Carson Beck incredible compliment leading up to the CFP

Miami football fans should be over the moon about making the College Football Playoff! It took a while, but the Selection Committee got it right. Honoring the Week 1 head-to-head victory over Notre Dame is what propelled the Hurricanes into the last spot in. While Notre Dame is still pouting big time, taking its ball and going home, Miami is poised to take on Texas A&M at Kyle Field in the first round.

During ESPN's College Football Playoff Selection Show, Mario Cristobal spoke highly of Carson Beck.

"He's probably the most misunderstood person I've ever been around. Since the day he got to campus, and even though he couldn't participate, he was an absolute elite leader. He was always engaged with his teammates. He found ways to get around them and make them better."

Cristobal finished his thoughts on Beck by saying how involved he was throughout the offseason.

"And even though he couldn't throw a football, he took part in just about every other aspect of practice, all walkthroughs, the run game, protection checks. He quickly established himself as a guy that was respected because his level of football acumen, and also his level of commitment."

Cristobal saying Beck is misunderstood as a leader and a player is certainly resonating within Miami.

Let's unpack Cristobal's comments to Joey Galloway on the ESPN telecast just a bit more here.

Mario Cristobal heaps praise onto Carson Beck right before the playoff

For those who watched Beck during his first five college football seasons at Georgia, it was a bit of a mixed bag on what he did for the Bulldogs, as well as how his UGA career ended. While he only lost three games as a starter over two seasons, he never did play in a playoff game for the Dawgs. He certainly gave his all for Georgia, but Dawg Nation was often left wanting more. It was a bit disjointed.

But now that Beck is in Miami, he has put his heart and soul into this team. While his proclivity for throwing poorly-timed picks have not fallen to the wayside, Cristobal is absolutely right that Beck's football acumen is off the charts. He has seen everything in his six-year college career. He has been a backup and now a starter at two prestigious Power Four programs. Beck is ready for his big moment.

While it remains to be seen if he will be the one to end Texas A&M's playoff run, this is it for him. He will have exhausted all of his collegiate eligibility. Beck should get drafted next spring, but it is anyone's guess what round he will be taken. Beck is probably not a first-round pick, but his football talents do translate to the NFL. Even more important, they are translating from one contending team to another.

For now, Beck, Cristobal, and the rest of the Hurricanes need to get ready for their first-round game.