Georgia quarterback JT Daniels and wide receiver Jermaine Burton both announced on Wednesday that they will be entering the NCAA transfer portal and will look to finish their collegiate careers elsewhere.
On Thursday, Ole Miss head coach Lane Kiffin tweeted a photo from Ben Epps Airport in Athens. Per Jon Sokoloff of WCBI News, Kiffin was in town to visit with Daniels and Burton, who are being considered a ‘package deal,‘ Sokoloff also reported.
Source: #OleMiss HC Lane Kiffin met with Georgia QB JT Daniels and WR Jermaine Burton today in Athens. Both players are in the portal and I am told they see themselves as a "package deal".
Would be a massive get for Ole Miss if Kiffin can pull this off.
— Jon Sokoloff (@JonSokoloff) January 21, 2022
Both Daniels and Burton made a huge impact in 2020, but both saw their roles decrease during the 2021 season. Daniels, who went 5-0 in 2020 as Georgia’s starter, started in only two games this past season after an oblique injury sent him to the sideline. Burton recorded similar numbers during his 2021 sophomore season to his freshman year, but lost his starting job during the season as well. He still finished as UGA’s second leading receiver.
Daniels is expected finish out the semester out UGA, which will allow him graduate transfer status and provide him with immediate eligibility wherever he goes.
Burton should be enrolling at his new school sooner than later and go through spring drills with his new team.
Former USC QB JT Daniels with his second TD of the night. Hits FR Jermaine Burton down the seam to tie Mississippi State. Burton has been unstoppable. pic.twitter.com/1UbNnTUHzB
— Bobby Football (@Rob__Paul) November 22, 2020
Here’s a good bit of information from Dawgnation on the chemistry Daniels and Burton have built up and why they are reportedly considering themselves to be a package deal:
Daniels and Burton grew close last spring when the two spent time together on the spring break trip the former Bulldogs’ starter arranged for the receivers, backs and tight ends to enhance team chemistry.
Burton and Daniels had already shown on-field chemistry, as the explosive Burton reeled in 8 catches for 197 yards and 2 touchdowns in Daniels’ 401-yard passing performance against Mississippi State in 2020.
Daniels was the nation’s No. 2 ranked recruit in the class of 2018 and enrolled at USC before transferring to UGA in May of 2020.
Burton’s departure is a significant blow to UGA’s 2022 offense. Burton was Georgia’s second leading receiver during UGA’s 2021 national title run. He recorded 26 catches for 497 yards and five touchdowns.
The news came just a few days after Georgia wide receiver coach Cortez Hankton joined Brian Kelly’s staff at LSU. Burton was once committed to LSU in the class of 2020 before flipping his commitment to Georgia.
Burton also had a great year during his 2020 freshman season, recording 404 yards.