Mark Richt on Jamie Newman: ‘I predict he will be the best quarterback in the SEC’
Georgia football may have its replacement for Jake Fromm lined up, as ESPN’s Mark Schlabach was the first to report that Wake Forest graduate transfer Jamie Newman has landed with the Bulldogs.
There is a Jamie Newman listed in the Georgia student directory but nothing official has been announced regarding his status with Georgia. But with the news out there, many are wondering what type of player Georgia might be getting.
Related: What we know about Wake Forest graduate transfer Jamie Newman’s Georgia football status
Well, former Georgia coach Mark Richt offered up a very strong endorsement for Newman.
“I have been watching Jamie Newman all season with the ACC network,” Richt tweeted. “Georgia just landed a great one! I predict he will be the best quarterback in the SEC! Go Dawgs!”
I have been watching Jamie Newman all season with the ACC network. Georgia just landed a great one! I predict he will be the best quarterback in the SEC! Go Dawgs!
— Mark Richt (@MarkRicht) January 11, 2020
Richt serves as an analyst for the ACC Network. Newman threw for 26 touchdowns and 11 interceptions in 2019 while also adding 574 rushing yards and 6 touchdowns. The potential running threat would bring a very different skillset to the Georgia offense.
Earlier this offseason, Newman also received some high praise from the folks over at Pro Football Focus, where they rated Newman as the No. 3 returning quarterback for the 2020 season, behind only Clemson’s Trevor Lawrence and Ohio State’s Justin Fields.
Newman will potentially have big shoes to replace, as Fromm went 35-7 as a starter over the past three seasons and led Georgia to three-straight SEC East titles and an appearance in the national championship game. Newman led Wake Forest to an 8-5 record this past season.
The quarterback position in the SEC does figure to take a step back next season, as Alabama’s Tua Tagovailoa announced that he would also be entering the 2020 NFL Draft. Heisman Trophy winner Joe Burrow will also exhaust his eligibility after LSU plays Clemson in the national championship game on Monday night. The top returning quarterbacks in the conference next year are Texas A&M’s Kellen Mond and Florida’s Kyle Trask.
There has been some recent success stories with transfer quarterbacks, as three of the four quarterbacks for the teams in the College Football Playoff, this year were transfer quarterbacks.
As for how some others feel about the possible addition of Newman, see below. Most seem to be intrigued by what Newman can do as a runner in addition to his passing ability.
Jamie Newman will be transferring to the University of Georgia!
Second-highest graded QB in the ACC-85.2 pic.twitter.com/dx1oJXweTs
— PFF College (@PFF_College) January 11, 2020
If you’re a Georgia fan who’s not excited about Jamie Newman, I’d love to hear which grad transfer QB you’d be excited about… cause there’s not a better one. #GoDawgs
— Jon Tweets Sports (@JonTweetsSports) January 10, 2020
Georgia couldn’t win the SEC with Jake Fromm, 5 NFL offensive linemen, Swift and the best defense in the league.
But now Jamie Newman makes things all better.
— Matt Hayes (@MattHayesCFB) January 11, 2020
Jamie Newman is poised in pocket, excellent job of ID'ing best match-up/high-pointing the 50/50 balls, allowing WR to make plays downfield. Nice touch on deep balls. Dude is legit on R-P-O's. Tough Red Zone runner. Good escaping rush & throwing accurately on the run. @680TheFan
— buck belue (@buckbelue8) January 10, 2020
College football’s highest-graded QB’s through the first 11 weeks of 2019:
Joe Burrow
Justin Fields
Jamie Newman pic.twitter.com/BEGMg6O6OR— PFF College (@PFF_College) January 11, 2020
It’s likely Jamie Newman is UGA bound. Some advice for him: 1. Lean on the resources available to you. UGA has unparalleled S & C and nutrition staffs. 2. Soak up the experience. DawgNation is a fun thing to be part of. 3. Be careful with the folding chairs.
— Brandon Adams (@DawgNationDaily) January 11, 2020
Anthony Brown & Jamie Newman are gonna change two whole programs next year. pic.twitter.com/QNIFYX6esI
— Quincy Avery (@Quincy_Avery) January 7, 2020
Anyone hating on Jamie Newman hasn’t watched his film. Buddy throws dimes and is a tough runner. Yeah senior class is bout to pull the sweep in Jax.
— DawgTalk (@kirbywetrust) January 11, 2020
Newman — should he join the Bulldogs — will be competing with Stetson Bennett, D’Wan Mathis and Carson Beck for the starting job. Newman also already graduated, meaning that he would be able to go through spring practice should he choose to land at Georgia.
Georgia opens the 2020 season on Sept. 7 against Virginia in the Chick-fil-A Kickoff Classic. In his time at Wake Forest, Newman never played against Virginia.
More Georgia football stories from around DawgNation
- Georgia football podcast: UGA seemingly active in pursuit of transfer QB
- The addition of Cade Mays is another example of Tennessee trying to replicate Georgia football
- Georgia football: How do the Bulldogs move forward after the Jake Fromm decision?
- Georgia football podcast: Don’t blame UGA fans for Jake Fromm’s bittersweet departure
- Broderick Jones: 5-star Georgia commit changes up official visit plan for a familiar face
- Carson Beck: Can he win games early on in his career at Georgia?
- With Cade Mays in the transfer portal, what does Georgia football 2020 offensive line look like
- Social media reacts to news of Jake Fromm departure, Cade Mays family lawsuit
