USC five-star quarterback JT Daniels, who is currently in the NCAA transfer portal, is reportedly close to becoming a Georgia Bulldog, according to Jake Reuse of Rivals.com
Daniels signed with USC as a five-star pro-style quarterback in the class of 2018. Out of Santa Ana, California, he ranked as the nation’s No. 6 overall player and as the third ranked quarterback, behind only Trevor Lawrence and Justin Fields.
Daniels entered the transfer portal in mid-April. He started for the Trojans in 2018 as a true freshman and has only used one full year of eligibility. Daniels’ freshman season had its ups and downs. He threw for 14 touchdowns and 2,672 yards with 10 interceptions, and the Trojans finished with a disappointing 5–7 record. Daniels was the starter to open the 2019 season as well, but tore his ACL and meniscus in the season-opener. After that, it was Kedon Slovis who came in and threw for 3,500 yards and 30 touchdowns. With Slovis returning this year, it left Daniels no choice but to look to play elsewhere. Similar to the Jacob Eason/Georgia situation.
What does that mean for Georgia in 2020?
With Wake Forest graduate transfer Jamie Newman now in Athens, he looks like the frontrunner to start this year. Whether or not Daniels will receive immediate eligibility to play this year is not yet clear, but if he does, we’ll be in for a fun quarterback battle in 2020. Already on the roster at quarterback is Newman, Stetson Bennett IV, redshirt freshman D’Wan Mathis and true freshman Carson Beck.
As for 2021, Georgia has a commitment from 5-star quarterback Brock Vandagriff. But despite what we’ve seen from Georgia in recent memory with Jacob Eason and Jake Fromm, starting a true freshman at quarterback in the SEC is not terribly ideal, so Vandagriff taking a redshirt year would not be so bad. We’ll have to wait and see if this possibly impacts Vandagriff’s decision to play for Georgia.