A fuse has been lit for the college football season.
Greg McElroy, former Alabama quarterback and 2009 BCS National Champion, was featured this week on an Atlanta-based radio show “Xtra 106.3” to talk about Jamie Newman – the graduate transfer to Georgia from Wake Forrest.
In discussing the once signal caller for the Atlantic Coast Conference, McElroy referred to Newman as being “way more talented” than Alabama’s Mac Jones. He praised Newman’s upside, athletic abilities and passing mechanics, while stating how “there’s not many out there in college football like him.”
As talented as Newman is, he had seven touchdowns to seven interceptions in 3.5 (injury versus Syracuse) of the four matchups he started in where the Demon Deacons lost.
Despite an 8-5 record for the program, he also completed just 49.2 percent of his passes combined versus Syracuse, Louisville, Virginia Tech, Clemson and Michigan State (bowl game).
RELATED: Jamie Newman “way more talented’ than Mac Jones according to Greg McElroy
Overall, Newman’s touchdown to interception ratio was better versus non-ACC schools (14-9) than conference opponents (12-9). Now that he is in the Southeastern Conference, he will face defenses every week that look to make him one-dimensional and force him be an incredibly accurate passer.
When it comes to Jones, he started and played in less games than Newman yet had better numbers in some areas.
In his two starts versus SEC schools, Jones carried an average quarterback rating of 90.8 against Arkansas (91.9) and Auburn (89.8).
He compiled a touchdown to interception ratio of 7-2, while tossing for 300-plus passing yards in both games. The native Floridian boasted a 95.3 QBR versus Michigan in the Citrus Bowl, accounting for 327 yards passing with three scores.
Even with having the best statistics returning to the conference, very few people see Jones as someone that can lead the Crimson Tide to a national championship. The lingering doubters have added more fuel to the fire, as he intends to turn heads this season. On Friday’s airing of In My Own Words, yours truly of Touchdown Alabama Magazine breaks down the importance of why Jones needs to perform well versus Georgia.
With McElroy’s words, the week three contest between the Tide and Bulldogs will be highly entertaining.
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Stephen M. Smith is the managing editor and senior writer for Touchdown Alabama Magazine. You can “like” him on Facebook or “follow” him on Twitter, via @CoachingMSmith.
