What social media is saying after UGA QB Jamie Newman opts out of 2020 season
Jamie Newman‘s Georgia career was over before he ever played a snap. The much-hyped transfer quarterback announced on Tuesday that he would be opting out of playing the 2020 season and instead will prepare for the 2021 NFL Draft.
Newman made his decision known via Twitter on Wednesday afternoon.
“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 wrote.
Related: Georgia quarterback Jamie Newman to opt out for NFL draft
Newman acknowledged his brief time at Georgia but still thanked the coaching staff and players.
“I would like to thank Coach Smart for extending the opportunity for me to be a part of the University of Georgia football program,” Newman said.
🙏🏽. #GODSPLAN pic.twitter.com/1LMOi1lydF
— Jamie Newman (@jlmn12_) September 2, 2020
Newman had widely been presumed to be the starting quarterback for Georgia this season after transferring from Wake Forest. A season ago, Newman threw 26 touchdowns while also rushing for 574 yards.
A number of prominent faces in the college football world weighed in on the news, including former Georgia players David Pollack, Aaron Murray and Hutson Mason.
With Jamie Newman as Georgia’s QB I was going to pick them to win the Natty. Now? Back to Bama/Clemson
— David Pollack (@davidpollack47) September 2, 2020
Jamie Newman looking like he is going to opt out. Sad, I was looking forward to seeing him run Monken’s offense. Would have been a perfect fit @UGAAthletics
— Aaron Murray (@aaronmurray11) September 2, 2020
The timing of Jamie Newman opting out is very odd. The messaging vs the timing doesn’t add up. Covid is a convenient excuse that agents are leveraging toward players. And remember JT Daniels hasn’t been cleared yet to play.
— Hutson Mason (@HMason14) September 2, 2020
Georgia coach Kirby Smart had previously said that no player was opting out this season, and should Newman do so, he would be the first Georgia player to opt-out for the season. LSU recently saw wide receiver Ja’Marr Chase and defensive tackle Tyler Shelvin opt-out to prepare for the NFL draft as well.
Newman had not yet officially been named the starting quarterback, as he was battling the likes of JT Daniels, D’Wan Mathis and Carson Beck. Daniels transferred to Georgia in May after spending his first two seasons at USC. He has 12 career starts, but he is also coming off a torn ACL and is not yet fully cleared according to Smart.
Related: Teammates, Kirby Smart discuss what JT Daniels will bring to Georgia football quarterback battle
Mathis also missed all of last season following brain surgery in May of 2019 but he has been cleared to play. Beck signed with Georgia as a 4-star recruit in the 2020 class.
The news brought out a number of reactions from the various people in the national media and Georgia fans alike.
Wow, Georgia's transfer from Wake Forest not playing this fall. https://t.co/oBTHhMlrCY
— Dave Matter (@Dave_Matter) September 2, 2020
Newman came and he was gone. Wish him well. #GoDawgs https://t.co/S574XbB1dT
— UGA Supporters (@Support_UGA) September 2, 2020
Honestly my favorite Georgia quarterback of all time now https://t.co/C7cpV4Jywm
— BUM CHILLUPS, NPR CLASS PUNDIT (@edsbs) September 2, 2020
fwiw I think Newman was probably at least a little bit overhyped, but if Georgia fails to win a championship you can bet he'll go down alongside Justin Fields as a UGA alternate-history legend.
— Matt Hinton (@MattRHinton) September 2, 2020
@jtdaniels06 Let’s ride bro! pic.twitter.com/rRSfQ9StBK
— AXactly (@DawgAXactly) September 2, 2020
Good news!
The title of Greatest Newman In UGA History remains untouched! pic.twitter.com/tpiegTipoO
— Nick Suss (@nicksuss) September 2, 2020
Did you hear what happened at Georgia? pic.twitter.com/ky5ElqTuSL
— Ross Dellenger (@RossDellenger) September 2, 2020
Florida fans yesterday: “UGA’s quarterback is from Wake freakin’ Forest! LOLZ!!”
Florida fans today: “UGA just lost a Heisman-worthy quarterback!! We gonna win a Cocktail Party!”
— Logan Booker (@LoganMBooker) September 2, 2020
So the Georgia QB situation just got interesting? https://t.co/iiWTjBYPvu
— Jason McIntyre (@jasonrmcintyre) September 2, 2020
Have heard that Jamie Newman had been looking really impressive during camp. Sources say he’d been mulling over this decision during the past 48 hours.
— Bruce Feldman (@BruceFeldmanCFB) September 2, 2020
Hard to say what my favorite memory will be of the Jamie Newman era at UGA. https://t.co/QuiEVoYak1
— Stewart Mandel (@slmandel) September 2, 2020
TCU was in the Big East longer than Jamie Newman was at Georgia
— Brett McMurphy (@Brett_McMurphy) September 2, 2020
Smart did add that a number of quarterbacks worked with the first team at this past Saturday’s scrimmage.
“I’m pretty sure we had every quarterback go with the 1s at one time,” Smart said. “Jamie [Newman] operated with the 1s, and JT [Daniels] operated with the 1s. D’Wan [Mathis] got a red area series with the 1s, as well.”
Georgia’s first game of the 2020 season is set for Sept. 26 when the Bulldogs play Arkansas. Georgia does have a scrimmage this coming Saturday, which will go a long way in determining who ends up starting that Week 1 game.
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