BULLDOGS QB COMPETITION HEATS UP

Kyusung Gong/Associated Press

BUCK BELUE
680 THE FAN, ATLANTA – A couple of weeks ago, I was forecasting where USC transfer quarterback JT Daniels could end up in the Deep South. Georgia was not on my list, but it was for JT! Wow! What a surprise.

Suddenly, Coach Kirby Smart has a talented, deep and very crowded QB room.

Daniels arrives in Athens still hoping to get a transfer waiver and immediate eligibility. JT has 3 years of eligibility at UGA.

FILE – Georgia head coach Kirby Smart walks the turf after an NCAA college football game against Mississippi State. Georgia won 31-3. (FILE AP Photo/Mike Stewart)

Coach Smart will not hesitate to create big-time competition at the quarterback spot. A lot of coaches aren’t comfortable playing it that way. They are scared of it dividing the team. Not Kirby. His message: Come compete. We will go with the best QB. Period.

I’m educated guessing that Jamie Newman is the guy this season. Plug and play the experienced graduate.

But next spring, the competition heats up, with JT Daniels, Carson Beck, D’Wan Mathis and maybe Brock Vandagriff battling it out for the job. The winner of that intense competition could have a multi-year run as the Georgia quarterback. The losers probably look to transfer.

This is going to be a huge story line to follow.

The JT Daniels story line is interesting. He played at one of California’s legendary high school football programs (Mater Dei) and took the job as a freshman. And he ended up graduating early (skipped his senior year) to sign with USC. In that 2018 recruiting class he was the #2 rated pro-style QB, behind Trevor Lawrence. At USC, JT wins the starting job as a freshman and starts 11 games.

My video analysis: JT can spin it! Not prototypical size (6’2” 200), but he can make all the throws. Pocket presence was above average. Not a runner, but moves around well. Really seems to be advanced, as far as the Football IQ. Good understanding of passing concepts & coverage. Good with pre-snap reads and makes quick post-snap decisions. Put him in the “Pure Passer” category.

Dudes like this are not concerned with competition or depth charts. He believes he is the best quarterback and he will be out to show it. Game on, Carson Beck. Wonder what Brock Vandagriff is thinking right now? Things have gotten really interesting at the UGA QB position.

More about the Georgia Bulldogs on “The Buck & Kincade Show,” weekdays from Noon-3, on 680 The Fan.

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