WATCH: D.J. Shockley projects effect QB competition will have on Jamie Newman
ATHENS — Former Georgia quarterback D.J. Shockley believes Wake Forest grad transfer Jamie Newman will respond to the competition JT Daniels could bring this season.
If anyone knows the value of making the most of their senior season, it’s Shockley,
Shockley played behind David Greene for three years before pouncing on his opportunity. In 2005, Shockley led the Bulldogs to the SEC Championship with his MVP performance in the 34-14 win over then-No. 3-ranked LSU.
Newman, a backup at Wake Forest his first two seasons before a breakout 2019 campaign, said choosing Georgia was a “no-brainer.”
RELATED: Newman reveals surprising reason he chose UGA
Shockley said Newman will feed off the competition from the USC transfer — Daniels — along with freshmen D’Wan Mathis and Carson Beck.
“If you’re a competitor like I know Jamie Newman is, he’s played the last couple of years in the ACC and done really well,” Shockley said on the WSB GameDay show.
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“This will only make him hungrier to fight for that spot.”
Newman enrolled at UGA in January and had a chance to get some rhythm throwing in 7-on-7 drills.
But spring drills were canceled before they could even get started on account of the coronavirus pandemic.
Kirby Smart has said UGA doesn’t know what they have at quarterback, and the staff won’t be allowed to oversee workouts until July 15.
RELATED: Smart says UGA ‘don’t really know what we have’ at QB
Newman and the other UGA quarterbacks could only rely on four and then eight hours of Zoom calls with new offensive coordinator Todd Monken leading up to the voluntary workouts.
Daniels, who has applied for a waiver that would grant him immediate eligibility, is considered a “cerebral” quarterback.
But Daniels is also coming off a torn ACL suffered in the first half of Southern Cal’s opening game last season.
WATCH: USC beat writer breaks down Daniels, shares insight
Meanwhile, Shockley likes the mobility the 6-foot-4, 230-pound Newman brings to the offensive arsenal.
“Jamie is more athletic and can move around,” Shockley said. “This is a guy who over the past couple of years, I was looking at his numbers, he’s had 244 attempts running the football for over 800 yards.
Indeed, but Newman said himself he was “banged up” after last season.
Jamie Newman after the Pinstripe Bowl:
“I think it’s been pretty obvious I’ve been banged up pretty much all season, for the most part. I’ve just gotta fight, just gotta let my body heal up and learn from this year and take it into next year.”
— Conor O’Neill (@ConorONeillWSJ) December 31, 2019
Quincy Avery, Newman’s quarterback trainer, told DawgNation Newman was attracted to Georgia because he could play in a pro style offense and rely a bit less on his legs.
RELATED: Why Jamie Newman fits direction of new offense
“(Monken) is going to allow Jamie to pass the football, drive the ball down the field and outside the hashes,” Avery said. “When things break down and they’re not available outside, then I think they’re going to be able to use his legs.
“It’s not gonna be a bunch of quarterback runs, although, he has the ability to do that as well as anyone in the country.”
Newman, for his part, didn’t even mention the quarterback competition in his exclusive interview for the The Bulldog Club last week that was narrated by Shockley.
Former Georgia QB D.J. Shockley
Even with the addition of @jtdaniels06, our @DjShockley3 says @jlmn12_ should thrive off the competition!
📺: TODAY at 11am on @wsbtv! #GoDawgs pic.twitter.com/nJhyV7RwK5
— Bulldogs Game Day (@WSBbulldogs) June 27, 2020
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