Georgia quarterback Jamie Newman opting out of the 2020 season has come as a total surprise and no one saw it coming.
Major news dropped out of Athens on Wednesday afternoon, after it was announced that Georgia Bulldogs quarterback Jamie Newman, seemingly out of nowhere, has opted out of the 2020 season over COVID-19 concerns.
Newman, a grad transfer from Wake Forest, was in the middle of a quarterback battle with USC transfer JT Daniels, with Newman expected to win the job. Now, Daniels appears set to be the new go-to signal-caller for Kirby Smart and the Bulldogs.
As you might expect, both fans and media members have been left absolutely stunned with Wednesday’s major development. The expectation was that Newman would help the Bulldogs push for an SEC title and compete for a national championship. Now, his season is over before it even began.
Media and fans alike react to the news that Georgia football quarterback Jamie Newman has opted out of the 2020 season and will prepare for the 2021 NFL Draft
With Jamie Newman as Georgia’s QB I was going to pick them to win the Natty. Now? Back to Bama/Clemson
— David Pollack (@davidpollack47) September 2, 2020
Hard to say what my favorite memory will be of the Jamie Newman era at UGA. https://t.co/QuiEVoYak1
— Stewart Mandel (@slmandel) September 2, 2020
I told you all Jamie Newman wasn't going to be a Heisman Trophy contender...
— SEC Mike (@MichaelWBratton) September 2, 2020
Feels like Jamie Newman is preserving his draft stock. Elite D, most talent on O he’s ever had, elite WR,+ all athletes I’ve talked to feel good about COVID protection/testing/etc. If you’re gonna be the starter, don’t understand opting out. “IF”🤔 I think JT was winning that job
— Jordan Rodgers (@JRodgers11) September 2, 2020
Jamie Newman looking like he is going to opt out. Sad, I was looking forward to seeing him run Monken’s offense. Would have been a perfect fit @UGAAthletics
— Aaron Murray (@aaronmurray11) September 2, 2020
TCU was in the Big East longer than Jamie Newman was at Georgia
— Brett McMurphy (@Brett_McMurphy) September 2, 2020
https://twitter.com/HMason14/status/1301247122927427588
https://twitter.com/DjShockley3/status/1301242749430231046?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1301242749430231046%7Ctwgr%5Eshare_3&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fugawire.usatoday.com%2F2020%2F09%2F02%2Ftwitter-reacts-to-georgia-football-transfer-quarterback-jamie-newmans-decision-to-opt-out-of-the-2020-cfb-season-collge-football-news%2F
Was really looking forward to seeing him under center. Damn. pic.twitter.com/GqPeGc1vlz
— Chase Davis (@MChaseD) September 2, 2020
Good call. It's not worth the risk.
— NotATweeter16 (@NotATweeter16) September 2, 2020
If he plays, contracts COVID, sustains lung &/or heart damage, & misses out on the rest of his college ball—or even pro-ball—career, UGA
-won't give him all the money he would've earned
-probably won't even let him keep his scholarship
As you can see from the tweets above, everyone on social media was taken aback by Newman’s decision to opt-out. He had been performing so well during fall camp and looked poised to have a strong year in his first SEC campaign.
As you saw in David Pollack‘s tweet, he even had Georgia as a legitimate contender to compete for a national title with Newman running the offense. Now, it will be on Daniels to try and make some magic happen for Smart and the rest of the coaching staff. Newman will shift his focus to train to get ready for the 2021 NFL Draft instead of suiting up for the Bulldogs.
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