Tag: Georgia quarterbacks

Interview: Aaron Murray says what Georgia should do at quarterback ahead of Auburn

We sat down with former Georgia quarterback Aaron Murray to get his thoughts on Georgia’s unique quarterback situation. Details here

No 4. Georgia is still looking for its starting quarterback ahead of Saturday night’s matchup with No. 7 Auburn.

Redshirt freshman D’Wan Mathis started the game last week versus Arkansas, but was abruptly pulled for junior Stetson Bennett after just five offensive drives.

Mathis, who was cleared for football activities in May after surgery to remove a brain cyst kept him out in 2019, didn’t get much help from his teammates in the short time he was under center versus the Razorbacks.

Preseason second-team All-SEC center Trey Hill surprised with multiple bad snaps, plus the Bulldogs totaled 11 penalties for 98 yards in the first half.

Former Georgia quarterback, now CBS Sports college football analyst Aaron Murray believes Mathis was fighting from behind even before the first snap.

“To be able to master a playbook, and then to get the timing down with your receivers and running backs and the communication with your offensive line. It takes a lot of time. I don’t think he has had a lot of time to do that. So, I think expectations were high, but obviously it comes with the position here be a starting quarterback and Georgia. People expect a certain level of play. I just think those expectations were unrealistic.”

Georgia was forced to scramble to find a signal-caller just a few weeks before the season after Wake Forest transfer quarterback Jamie Newman, the projected starter and Heisman Trophy hopeful, decided to opt-out of the 2020 football season because of Covid-19 related concerns.

The Bulldogs’ decision then was between Mathis, Bennett and redshirt sophomore, USC transfer J.T. Daniels, the only current Georgia quarterback with Power 5 experience.

Georgia coach Kirby Smart expected Daniels to be cleared by gametime last week, but after traveling with the team to Fayetteville, Daniels was still not cleared for gameplay, throwing Mathis into the starting role at-least for week-one.

“The cards were stacked against him (Mathis). He hasn’t played football in a while, didn’t have spring, wasn’t a starter and really had limited reps in the offense or in fall camp. So to me, hen is someone that I wish they would have given at least the first half, get through the first quarter, you know, make a couple of mistakes, and then see how he rebounds, especially mentally and how he can handle it and then go from there.”

Smart announced on Monday that Daniels is now cleared for gameplay and Murray believes his experience at USC in 2018 can set him apart from Mathis and Bennett moving forward.

“He (Daniels) was an 18 year old kid playing college football at USC, and I thought he did pretty good for being a young pup playing out there. Start the season off strong through the first half of last season in that first game. And then obviously, the ACL injury happened. He is a big kid, he has a good arm, he’s played football.”

Bennett, a former JUCO star at Jones County Junior College in Ellisville, Mississippi, came in for Mathis and showed promise, throwing for 211 yards on 20/29 passing with two touchdowns and a two point conversion run.

“I do think Stetson came in and played really well. I mean, it’s another guy who probably had absolutely no opportunity with the ones at all during fall camp to get the reps and get the timing with those guys. So, the fact that he was able to go 20/29, get a couple touchdowns take care of the football was was really darn impressive to watch. And I think he’s someone that’s going to take care of the football, he’s going to be accurate, he’s played, he just looked like he was more comfortable out there”

The defense’s three interceptions, one for a pick-six, and safety were a large part of the Bulldogs’ resurgence from a abismal first half, but Bennett’s poise helped Georgia find at least some identity in its season opener.

This weeks matchup with No. 7 Auburn will be much more difficult for the Bulldogs. The Tigers come to Athens off of a 29-13 win versus Kentucky where sophomore quarterback Bo Nix threw for 233 yards on 16/27 passing with three touchdowns and led team in rushing with five carries for 34 yards.

Auburn’s defense is as talented as always. The Tigers defensive front is led by defensive end Big Kat Bryant and at linebacker, senior K.J. Britt, who had 11 tackles versus Kentucky and is always around the ball. And in the secondary, the Tigers are lead by junior cornerback Roger McCreary, one of the best lock-down corners in the SEC.

The question remaining is,  how does Georgia come away with a win versus a top-10 Auburn team without a solidified starter at quarterback?

“Just lean on the defense, that’s all I got to say. People just want points, points, points. We want 4,050 points a game. Screw that man, just win. I just think that’s the issue right now – everyone wants these these explosive offenses. Everyone wants to go be entertained with high scoring games, just just be grateful that you’re winning ballgames. Be grateful that we won a road game against an SEC opponent, and we covered the spread.”

Listen to our full interview, including an Auburn preview, with the SEC’s all-time leading passer here:

 

 

Who will Auburn face from Georgia at the quarterback position?

Georgia is keeping tight on whether J.T. Daniels will be the starter at quarterback for the Dawgs as Auburn battles them in Athens Saturday.

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If you are an Auburn fan, you just knew that somehow J.T. Daniels would immediately be cleared for this week’s top-10 matchup for Georgia. That was no question. But is he going to be the one the Tigers see when they take the field on defense on Saturday in Athens?

All signs point to yes but there is still a chance that Stetson Bennett, who replaced D’Wan Mathis in the opener against Arkansas and put up 211 yards and two touchdowns, could be the guy.

Bennett seemed to settle into the position as the game went along against the Razorbacks but Daniels is the guy that the Bulldogs have been waiting on to see on the field. The transfer from USC and former No. 2 overall quarterback in the 2018 signing class showed signs of what he is capable of as a freshman for the Trojans in 2018, throwing for 2,672 yards and 14 touchdowns but still put up 10 interceptions.

He was supposed to have a breakout season last year for Clay Helton’s team but that immediately took a wrong turn as he was injured in the season opener against Fresno State.

Bennett is more of a game-manager type quarterback while Daniels can be a star at the position. He’s not exactly Matt Stafford or Aaron Murray, two quarterbacks that Georgia has thrown at the Tigers in recent history, but the capability is there. You just have to wonder about the rust that has built up after not playing in a game for more than a year.

Luckily, Auburn has one of the top defensive coordinators in the country in Kevin Steele on staff and he will have his players ready for whatever Kirby Smart decides to do with the quarterback situation. Whether it is Daniels or Bennett, the Tigers will be ready.

What Arkansas media is saying about Georgia football ahead of Saturday’s season opener

See what the Arkansas media is saying about Georgia ahead of Saturday’s matchup. Details and analysis here!

It’s finally here. No. 4 Georgia is set to kickoff its 2020 season at Arkansas on Saturday at 4 p.m. on the SEC Network.

UGA coach Kirby Smart matched up against former offensive line coach Sam Pittman, who left the Bulldogs last year to take the head coach position in Fayetteville.

Georgia has not yet named a starting quarterback and Smart hinted to the possibility of UGA keeping that under wraps anyway, but we know that former Florida quarterback Feleipe Franks will be at signal caller for the Razorbacks.

Here is what the Arkansas football media is saying about the Bulldogs:

“Maybe Smart mentioning Mathis last means he’s going to start. Several Georgia media members have speculated Mathis will start Saturday.”

“Georgia’s expected starter Jamie Newman who transferred in as a grad transfer from Wake Forest was generally considered the most likely quarterback, but he opted out of the season. That left USC transfer JT Daniels and D’Wan Mathis as the likely candidates. A reporter speculated to Pittman that Mathis seemed to be the likely starter.

“Georgia did not rack up a bunch of sacks last season either, finishing 46th nationally with 31 total, nor did the Bulldogs did not make a lot of TFL (60th with 76). Given those numbers, the fact that UGA was second nationally in allowing just 2.6 yards per rush without a lot of those negative yardage plays is even more impressive. They also led the nation with only two rushing touchdowns allowed.

The Razorbacks, off consecutive 2-10 seasons, start last year’s true freshman starting guard at center and first-time starting redshirt freshmen guards. They’ll either start a third-year sophomore (injured last season) or last year’s incumbent at right tackle with the lone senior starter at left tackle.

Arkansas has more than a challenge Saturday. Georgia enters with the best defense in the nation and some serious talent on offense, featuring guys like George Pickens, Zamir White, James Cook, etc.

It will be interesting to see how the Bulldogs treat the quarterback position Saturday. Will we see one guy take over the game, or will we see each player get some reps, and who gets the starting nod and why?

Because of the questions surrounding J.T. Daniels’ knee, I suspect D’Wan Mathis will get the start and a majority of the reps, with Daniels and Stetson Bennett seeing a limited number of snaps. We may even see freshman Carson Beck get reps as well.

Georgia football loses experience, play-making ability with quarterback Jamie Newman’s decision to opt-out of the 2020 CFB season

UGA quarterback Jamie Newman has decided to opt-out of the 2020 CFB season. How does Georgia replace his experience? Analysis here.

Just when things may be looking normal soon with the 2020 SEC football season just weeks away, Georgia suffers a huge blow to their offense, which was already facing a rebuild of sorts.

Bulldogs quarterback Jamie Newman decides to opt-out of the 2020 college football season.

Now, not only will Georgia be unveiling a different scheme under new offensive coordinator Todd Monken while working to replace four starters on the offensive line, but coach Smart and staff will also have to groom a new signal caller out of an inexperienced quarterback room.

I certainly don’t blame Newman for making a decision that he feels will be best for him in the long run.

The NCAA has granted athletes the option to opt-out, remain on scholarship and return for another year – extending eligibility for kids who feel  playing with the risks involved amid the Covid-19 pandemic outweigh the few reasons to play.

Newman has been projected to be drafted as high as the first-round of next year’s draft.

He trails only Clemson’s Trevor Lawrence and Ohio State’s Justin Fields as the highest-graded returning quarterback in college football, according to Pro Football Focus.

Newman was also named as the No. 1 quarterback in touchdown’s versus the blitz by PFF.

In 2019, at Wake Forest, Newman threw for 2,686 yards with 26 touchdowns and 11 interceptions, while adding 574 yards on the ground with six rushing touchdowns.

Besides Newman’s play-making ability, experience is what the Bulldogs are losing – perhaps now the most glaring hole in Georgia’s 2020 offense.

USC transfer quarterback J.T. Daniels does have 2,672 yards and year under his belt at USC, but he will have to learn to make plays in high-pressure SEC games while proving himself to the Georgia lockeroom. And he still isn’t technically cleared to play yet – although he has practiced.

Redshirt freshman D’Wan Mathis is coming off of brain surgery in 2019, but has returned to football activities. Former Georgia star quarterback Aaron Murray recently said Mathis was extremely impressive when he saw him at a practice in 2018.

The Bulldogs quarterback competition will now be at the forefront of everyone’s minds, especially with such big time games early in Georgia’s SEC-only schedule.

After going to Arkansas and facing Tennessee in Athens, Georgia will face Kentucky, Auburn, Alabama and Florida in consecutive games. An incredibly tough stretch for any team – especially one with an inexperienced signal caller.

Twitter reacts to Georgia quarterback Jamie Newman’s decision to opt-out of the 2020 CFB season

Here is how UGA Twitter reacted to the recent news of Georgia quarterback Jamie Newman’s decision to opt-out of the 2020 CFB season.

Wow, that stings. Georgia’s new heralded gunslinger Jamie Newman has decided to opt-out of the 2020 college football season and will be preparing for the 2021 NFL Draft.

Can’t say I don’t blame him for doing so, but that doesn’t make it any easier to swollow.

We were excited to say the least when Newman chose to finish his collegiate career at Georgia. And all we’ve heard this summer is about how Newman was one of the top returning quarterbacks in college football, so losing him just weeks before the opening is disheartening.

Here is how UGA Twitter reacted to the recent news:

UGA football player card: QB JT Daniels

Georgia Bulldogs redshirt sophomore quarterback JT Daniels comes to UGA after spending the first two seasons of his career at USC

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Quarterback JT Daniels (No. 18):

Class: Redshirt Sophomore

Height: 6-3

Weight: 210 pounds

Hometown: Irvine, California

High School: Mater Dei High School

Georgia Bulldogs redshirt sophomore quarterback JT Daniels comes to UGA after spending the first two seasons of his career at USC. Daniels transferred from the Trojans following an ACL injury he suffered during the 2019 season opener. Daniels is still rehabbing the injury and isn’t fully cleared to play as of late Aug. 2020.

Daniels has an opportunity this season in Athens with the departure of Buffalo Bills quarterback Jake Fromm. He will compete with Jamie Newman, Carson Beck, and more for the starting job. The NCAA granted him immediate illegibility on his transfer.

Georgia’s quarterback position has more depth this season than during the 2019 season. Georgia will have several options ready to step up if the starter suffers an injury. Wake Forest transfer Jamie Newman is projected to be the starter.

In three seasons at the prestigious Mater Dei High School, JT Daniels averaged more than 50 touchdown passes and 4,000 passing yards per season. Daniels was rated as the third ranked quarterback in his recruiting class behind Trevor Lawrence and Justin Fields.

Daniels has solid experience from his days at USC. In 2018, Daniels threw for 14 touchdowns and 10 interceptions for the Trojans. At the very least he will provide the Georgia Bulldogs with a solid, experienced option as a back up. He’s got the talent to earn the starting role this season and beyond.

Nov 24, 2018; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Southern California Trojans quarterback JT Daniels throws a pass against the Notre Dame Fighting Irish at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

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UGA football player card: QB Carson Beck

Georgia Bulldogs freshman quarterback Carson Beck enrolled early this year at UGA and will compete with Jamie Newman and JT Daniels.

Quarterback Carson Beck (No. 15):

Class: Freshman

Height: 6-4

Weight: 225 pounds

Hometown: Jacksonville, Florida

High School: Mandarin High School

Georgia Bulldogs freshman quarterback Carson Beck enrolled early this year at UGA. Beck was a four-star recruit in the class of 2020. Additionally, before coming to Athens, Beck competed at the 2019 Elite 11 camp.

Beck has an opportunity this season in Athens with the departure of Buffalo Bills quarterback Jake Fromm. He will compete with Jamie Newman, JT Daniels, and more for the starting job.

Georgia’s quarterback position has impressive depth this season. That being said, there may be too many mouths to feed in the quarterback room. Georgia will have several options ready to step up if the starter suffers an injury.

Carson Beck committed to the University of Georgia almost a week after receiving a scholarship offer from Kirby Smart and company. He announced his commitment via his Twitter account:

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Former Georgia QB Matthew Stafford’s COVID-19 test was ‘false positive’

Tuesday, the Detroit Lions revised their original report that QB Matt Stafford tested positive for COVID-19, details here.

Saturday, the Detroit Lions reported that star quarterback, former Georgia football star Matthew Stafford tested positive for the coronavirus.

However, in a revised report from the Lions on Tuesday, the organization stated that Stafford’s test was a ‘false positive’ and that he was removed from the NFL’s new ‘reserve/ COVID-19 list’.

The Lions had placed Stafford on the NFL’s new ‘reserve/ COVID-19 list’, making him the first starting quarterback to be placed on the list that was created for a player who either tests positive for COVID-19 or who has been quarantined after having been in close contact with an infected person or persons.

If a player falls into either of these categories, their club is required to immediately place the player on the reserve/COVID-19 list. Per agreed upon NFL-NFLPA policy, clubs are not permitted to comment on a player’s medical status other than referring to roster status. Clubs also may not disclose whether the player is in quarantine or is positive for COVID-19.

In Tuesday’s statement, the Lions ensured that Stafford does not have the virus and that he has received multiple negative tests on top of the original ‘false positive’ test.

Today we removed Matthew Stafford from the COVID-IR list and onto the Active Roster. As a result of a False-Positive test result, he was forced due to NFL/NFLPA protocols to sit out until he received two negative tests. His testing sequence for the Pre-Entry period was: negative, negative, False-Positive. The next three tests were all negative. To be clear, Matthew does NOT have COVID-19 and never has had COVID-19 and the test in question was a False-Positive. Also, all of Matthew’s family have been tested and everyone is negative.

In a statement posted on her Instagram account, Kelly Stafford expanded on how her family has dealt with the past week saying it was somewhat of a nightmare situation while blaming the NFL for the ‘false positive’ test.

Kelly concluded her post by saying their family is “absolutely fine and feeling great.”

“We are thankful for all those who called, texted, emailed and showed concern for Matthew and our family.”

 

Twitter reacts as NCAA rules USC transfer JT Daniels to be immediately eligible

Quarterback J.T. Daniels, who recently transferred to the University of Georgia, has been granted immediate eligibility by the NCAA.

Ex-USC quarterback J.T. Daniels, who recently transferred to the University of Georgia, has been granted immediate eligibility for this season from the NCAA.

The former Trojan is a five-star from Santa Ana, California. He was ranked as the No. 3-rated quarterback in his loaded recruiting class.

In 2018, Daniels threw for 2,672 yards with 14 touchdowns and 10 interceptions for USC. Unfortunately, he suffered a knee injury last season. Kedon Slovis was great in his time as the starter in 2019 and was strongly favored to win the starting job entering the 2020 season.

Wake Forest transfer Jamie Newman is projected to start for Georgia next season, but Daniels will compete provide solid depth and talent. Georgia has received a commitment from five-star quarterback Brock Vandagriff in the class of 2021.

Here’s how college football Twitter reacted to the news of Daniels’ eligibility:

https://twitter.com/TreyWallace_/status/1282720128262639616?s=20

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NCAA reaches decision on 2020 eligibility for Georgia QB JT Daniels

USC transfer quarterback JT Daniels has released the NCAA’s decision regarding his eligibility for the 2020 season. Details here

Per his Twitter, former USC quarterback JT Daniels, who recently transferred to Georgia, has been granted immediate eligibility from the NCAA for the 2020 college football season.

“Thank you to the NCAA for granting me immediate eligibility and allowing me to play football this fall. I will not comment on the waiver or transfer, but look forward to a great 2020 season with my teammates.”

The news comes two months after Daniels announced his commitment to the Bulldogs. The former 5-star out of Santa Ana, California was the No. 6 prospect in the 2018 recruiting class and the No. 3 rated quarterback behind Trevor Lawrence and Justin Fields.

In 2018, as a freshman at USC, Daniels threw for 2,672 yards with 14 touchdowns and 10 interceptions. He entered the transfer portal in mid-April after his 2019 sophomore season was derailed by a knee injury. USC’s Kedon Slovis stepped in while Daniels was down and played well for the Trojans, making the transfer portal one of the only options for Daniels – reminiscent of the Eason/Fromm situation.

The Bulldogs are set with Wake Forest transfer Jamie Newman as signal caller for 2020, but it’s great to know that Daniels will be available if something were to happen. Hopefully he will get some meaningful snaps to help prepare him to compete with 2021 5-star quarterback Brock Vandagriff for the starter position next season.