ATHENS — Don’t hate the player, hate the game.

That’s the sound advice for those who aren’t sure how to feel about Carson Beck pulling his name out of the NFL draft and entering the transfer portal.

It’s a smart move for Beck to return to college football for another season and improve his NFL draft stock, particularly after suffering an elbow injury that would prevent him from showcasing his skills at the Senior Bowl and NFL combine.

As for how Beck leaves Georgia, this is a player who gave the Bulldogs five seasons — three on the bench without transferring — and proceeded to go 24-3 as the starting quarterback.

Beck was 13-1 his first season as a starter and had a decision to make: Go pro, as a projected late-first round NFL pick, or score an NIL deal and return for another season with hopes of winning a national title.

Beck chose to cash the college check this season, but his return came with the provisions Georgia score an elite receiver in the portal and ensure premium pass protection, per a source with knowledge of the situation.

Was Colbie Young — who had 11 catches in the five games he played before getting suspended — an “elite” receiver addition?

Did the offensive line adequately protect Beck?

Georgia fans know the answers to those questions.

And yet, it was Beck, as the starting quarterback, who took most all of the criticism.

Part of that was on Beck, who made the rookie mistake of flashing his NIL riches on social media, and sharing his confident attitude a bit too casually.

Did Beck really need to show off his new tattoo at SEC Media Days? “Sky’s the limit.”

To be fair, there was nowhere to go but down for Beck, who entered the season as the nation’s leading returning passer, a Heisman Trophy favorite, a projected No. 1 NFL draft pick on the preseason No. 1-ranked team.

In Beck’s defense, he might as well have embraced it, because the expectations were going to be there.

The problem for Beck, and offensive coordinator Mike Bobo, is there were not enough adequate skill position players in the supporting cast.

There wasn’t a quarterback in America that was going to win the Heisman Trophy the way the Georgia receiving corps played this season, leading the nation with some 38 dropped passes.

Remember that Alabama game and the perfectly thrown deep ball dropped on the Bulldogs’ opening possession?

Or, on the second drive, how a receiver missed a call at the line, leading to the Tide picking off a pass deep in UGA territory that led to their second touchdown?

Those plays weren’t on Beck, but the incompletion, interception and legacy of not being able to beat Alabama goes on his resume.

Beck was visibly frustrated at times this season — which the cameras made sure to catch — even as Kirby Smart stood staunchly behind him.

Smart’s support should be the cue for Georgia fans.

If Smart — who oversaw all the practices, workouts and every grain of film — was staying in Beck’s corner through thick and thin, others should, too.

The view here is Beck grew up before our eyes this season, maturing, evolving his game, overcoming dropped passes and an inordinately average Georgia run game.

Injuries and suspensions played a role in the Bulldogs’ inability to give Beck the supporting cast he needed to showcase his skills.

To Beck’s credit, once unharnessed in the run game, he put the Georgia offense on his shoulders with key scrambles in come-from-behind wins over Tennessee and Georgia Tech.

Perhaps Beck would have done so again against Texas in the SEC Championship Game, had his blocking not failed him, enabling a Texas defender to put a season-ending hit on him at halftime.

Well, sort of season-ending ….

Beck, arm dangling at his side, re-entered the game on the final play with Gunner Stockton forced to the sideline on account of his helmet being knocked off.

Beck wanted to ensure a proper read at the line of scrimmage, a clean snap, and a flawless hand off to Trevor Etienne on the game-winning play.

That’s how I’ll remember Carson Beck.

It truly is unfortunate the blindside blow earlier in the game — on a dangerous Hail Mary pass called at the end of the first half — ultimately cost Beck millions of dollars in this year’s NFL draft and cast him into this uncertain situation.

Beck will earn more NIL dollars elsewhere — if UGA decides not to pony up — but it’s not going to be an easy situation to walk into a different locker room with new teammates, new coaches and new offense.

Georgia will move on with or without Beck, because that’s just how Smart operates.

Remember, the Bulldogs were ready to replace Stetson Bennett after he won the program’s first national championship in 40 years three years ago, with Caleb Williams then up for bidding in the portal.

Indeed, Stockton has acknowledged another quarterback might be coming in this offseason, because “great players are supposed to come to Georgia.”

College football is a business, and Beck fulfilled his contract and five-year obligation for Georgia.

Beck left it all out on the field, his effort and toughness was never questioned, nor was his desire to win.

If it’s time for Beck to try out a new environment, so be it, most reasonable fans will understand.

Important lessons were learned by Beck at Georgia, and those three years he spent waiting his turn rather than grabbing fast money elsewhere should be appreciated and remembered.

Georgia can learn too, about how important it is to stack the receiver room with players who can catch passes as well as they block and play special teams.

Players, not plays, win games. Former coordinator Todd Monken was an ace, but his deck was stacked with the likes of future 1,000-yard NFL producers Brock Bowers, Ladd McConkey and James Cook — along with dozens of three-and-out stops putting his UGA offenses right back out on the field with advantageous field position and leads..

The Bulldogs are moving back in the right direction when it comes to the skill positions.

Recent portal additions include at least two elite receivers, and there will probably be at least one impact pass catcher in this incoming freshman class. The running back room looks to start with explosive — and healthy and seasoned — playmakers Trevor Etienne and Nate Frazier.

All in all, Beck’s ability to lead Georgia into two SEC Championship Games was impressive under the circumstances.

Georgia will be fine, the world will keep turning, and sure as anything more players will be coming and going through the portal turnstiles.

Don’t hate those players, either, hate the game.