Will JT Daniels regret leaving USC to transfer to Georgia where quarterbacks go to die?

Will JT Daniels regret leaving USC for Georgia?

On the surface former USC quarterback JT Daniels transferring to Georgia makes sense. Yet, given their future outlook at the position, this was a very curious decision by the former five-star quarterback.

Daniels’ season ended prematurely, with the then-sophomore tearing his ACL and meniscus in USC’s season-opening win over Fresno State. Little did he know, he was opening the door to Kedon Slovis, to take his job for good.

Despite pleading from USC head coach Clay Helton who told Daniels the door is always open for a return, the Santa Ana native became the latest top-ranked quarterback recruit to join Kirby Smart and the Georgia Bulldogs.

Suddenly, the Dawgs depth chart will be stacked now and in the future, after Wake Forest transfer Jamie Newman arrived in January and 2021 five-star recruit and Georgia native Brock Vandagriff arrives next year. Daniels is used to competition after beating out Slovis and Jack Sears at USC but it’s interesting he’d go to a program without a clear path to a starting job.

Is transferring to Georgia the right decision for JT Daniels?

Daniels has a nice arm after throwing 14 touchdowns to 10 interceptions as a freshman two years ago and had a promising first half vs. Fresno State before his season-ending knee injury, but even if he gets a waiver to be eligible this year, it’s unlikely he gets the starting nod over Newman.

Smart hasn’t had much success molding young quarterbacks, either. Smart saw former five-star Jacob Eason transfer to Washington where he thrived in his one season before getting drafted ahead of Jake Fromm, the player who forced his transfer.

And then there’s Justin Fields who transferred after one season at Georgia and led Ohio State to the College Football Playoff as a Heisman finalist in his first year with the Buckeyes.

Daniels is an intriguing talent and if he has his way, will start under center in 2021 after Newman leaves for the NFL.

But doing so is no sure thing at this point, but Daniels is betting on himself.

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