With Jamie Newman opting out, Justin Fields could opt back in at Georgia
By John Buhler
With Jamie Newman opting out, could Justin Fields opt back in at Georgia?
How weird would it be if Justin Fields played for Georgia football for the second time in two years?
With Jamie Newman opting out of the upcoming 2020 college football season, the Georgia Bulldogs do have a quarterback spot available. Fields played his freshman year for the Dawgs backing up Jake Fromm in 2018 before transferring to the Ohio State Buckeyes, who as of now, aren’t playing college football this fall. Is there any chance Fields returns to the Classic City?
Justin Fields already watched the Dawgs practice in August, so why not?
Fields grew up in suburban Atlanta, starring for the Harrison Hoyas in nearby Kennesaw, Georgia. He may have been a Heisman Trophy finalist last season at Ohio State, but he’s very likely to have played his last snap of college ball. Fields is projected to be the No. 2 overall player taken in the 2021 NFL Draft behind only fellow native Georgian Trevor Lawrence of the Clemson Tigers.
Though not many have done it, some players have transferred in the craziest offseason of our lifetimes. Fields could technically use the hardship waiver in his favor as he did a season ago. Perhaps Todd Monken’s offense is a better fit for his skill set than James Coley’s was? Then again, nobody thrived from a skill position standpoint playing in Coley’s system a season ago at Georgia.
As for Georgia, head coach Kirby Smart would welcome back Fields with open arms, as he was the head coach who recruited him out of high school. And he was in attendance for the scrimmage last weekend so he still has a lot of love for the players, coaches and community there. Fields would technically have to battle former USC Trojans transfer JT Daniels and former JUCO player Stetson Bennett IV for the starting job. Daniels is talented, but he’s coming off injury and Fields may be the next Steve Young.
So is there any hope for Fields to return to Athens? Don’t count on it.
It’s too late in the cycle and we may get a Big Ten football season after all if nine Big Ten university presidents vote to overturn their postponement vote. Even if the Big Ten does play ball this fall, Fields may just end up opting out and preparing for the upcoming NFL Draft anyway.
Fields rocking the Red and Black again Between the Hedges is merely a pipe dream at this time.
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