With the college football season gearing up to kick off later this month, the decision for the starting quarterback job at the University of Georgia just got a whole lot easier. Perhaps for the worst.
On Wednesday, Wake Forest transfer Jamie Newman announced his decision to opt out this season and begin to prepare for the 2021 NFL Draft. Newman cited the uncertainties of the COVID-19 pandemic as the reason for his departure from the team.
UGA reported an increase of 189 positive tests this past week making it a total of 821 positive cases.
“With much prayer and discussion with my family I would like to announce that due to the uncertainties of this year amid a global pandemic I will officially opt-out of this football season to prepare for the upcoming 2021 NFL draft,” Newman said in his statement. “I would like to thank Coach Smart for extending the opportunity for me to be a part of the University of Georgia football program. Although my time has been short I’ve built some great relationships and I’ve had a chance to continue my development.
“As I prepare for the journey ahead, I remain hopeful and excited about what the future holds especially during these challenging times un out world.”
Alabama’s week four matchup with Georgia was one all Crimson Tide fans had circled on their calendars for having huge SEC Championship and College Football Playoff implications.
Although he has not officially be named the starter, the showdown between Mac Jones and Jaimie Newman was also a hotly contested topic as both quarterbacks were entering their first full season starting with their teams.
The job now falls onto the shoulder of another transfer quarterback in USC’s J.T. Daniels. Daniels still creates a bit of a quandary for the Kirby Smart as he is coming off of a torn ACL.
With Newman gone perhaps, the competition expands allowing the freshmen D’Wan Mathis and Carson Beck enter their names into the lottery.
Either way, Smart has 26 days to name his starter before a schedule that contains Auburn, Alabama and Florida gets underway.
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Patrick Dowd is a Reporter for Touchdown Alabama Magazine. You can follow him on Twitter, via Pat_Dowd77
