Transfer Spotlight – Georgia QB Jamie Newman

At CFB Saturdays we recognize that the landscape is always changing in College Football and the undeniable impact transfers have had on our beloved sport in recent history.  Transfers have gone on to make College Football Playoff runs, win the Heisman, the National Championship, and become top NFL Draft Picks (Joe Burrow recently accomplished all of the above).  Over the next few days, we will take a look at the potential impact of top Transfers in 2020 in our Transfer Spotlight Series.  We previously looked at Mississippi State QB KJ Costello. Today we take a look at Georgia QB Jamie Newman who is currently ranked 6^th in our 2020 Top 25 QB Rankings.

The Difference a Season Can Make

What a difference a season can make.  Going into the 2019 season Jamie Newman was a virtual unknown playing on a middling Wake Forest team in the ACC Atlantic Division.  That would quickly change with Wake Forest racing out to a 7-1 start and a Top 25 ranking in the AP Poll.  Dave Clawson’s prolific attack and tempo offense showcased the natural playmaking ability of Newman who went on to post 239.0 yards per game, 60.9% completions, 26 TDs & 11 INTs.  He also made plays with his legs en route to 574 rushing yards and 6 TDs. 

Newman injured his non-throwing shoulder in a shootout loss against Louisville but managed to return after just one game.  After losing third leading receiver Scotty Washington to injury in the 8^th game of the season, and star WR Sage Surrat in the very next game, Newman and Wake Forest struggled towards the finish line.  The team went on to lose four of its remaining five contests and Newman’s numbers dropped to 47.3% completions, 6 TDs & 6 INTs over that stretch.  Newman’s injury coupled with the loss of two of his top three receivers led to a once promising season ending with a proverbial thud.

Shortly after entering the transfer portal, Newman announced he would finish his career at Georgia under head coach Kirby Smart.  Smart has spent the last few seasons building a roster laden with NFL talent, but much to the chagrin of the fanbase, the 2019 offense struggled.  The Bulldogs failed to reach the 25 point mark in seven games last season despite having an offense littered with NFL draft picks.  The poor results led to offensive coordinator James Coley’s demotion and the hiring of new play caller Todd Monken from the NFL ranks.  Monken is known for his “pass first” approach which should create plenty of opportunities for Newman to showcase his abilities.

A Look at the New Georgia QB’s Gifts

Newman has plenty of tools for Monken to work with.  At 6’4” 230 pounds the maturing talent has prototypical size to go along with his deep ball accuracy.  He plays with a calming poise in the pocket and possesses legit dual-threat athleticism.  On intermediate throws Newman shows the ability to throw with velocity and fit the ball in between defenders.  He moves around the pocket with ease and does not get antsy when the opposing pass rush creates chaos around him (Take a look at his ability in this breakdown).   Newman’s self-made success indicates a strong work ethic and natural leadership ability, something Smart coveted in QB Jake Fromm.  Newman is a player committed to his team’s success and to improving his craft.  

There is certainly still room to improve his craft.  Although largely an accurate passer, Newman did struggle with consistency.  As previously noted, the end of his 2019 campaign is particularly alarming.  As the Georgia QB, Newman will be the face of the 2020 team and with that publicity will come heightened expectations and scrutiny.  Failing to complete 50% of his passes over five games will not be tolerated in Athens, injured or not.  That being said, Newman will be playing with a dominant supporting cast and improving his consistency likely won’t be an issue.

The Fit & Outlook at Georgia

Georgia has plenty to offer on the offensive side of the ball despite losing big time talent this offseason.  The playmaking ability starts with freshmen phenom WR George Pickens who capped a strong freshmen season with a dominant performance in the Allstate Sugar Bowl.  In addition to returning solid contributors Demetris Robertson and Dominick Blaylock, one of three true freshmen blue chippers – Marcus Rosemy, Arian Smith, or Jermaine Burton – have the talent to quickly emerge as a big play threat.

At RB the uber-talented Zamir White is expected to take the lead role, assuming his knees have fully recovered.   Fellow RBs James Cook & Kenny McIntosh also return with freshmen power back Kendall Milton expected to push them for playing time.  At tight end FSU transfer Tre McKitty brings plenty of experience and athleticism to round out the skill positions.  These are the kind of playmakers that can share the offensive load throughout the season and help Newman perform at his best – from start to finish.

The Offensive Line must replace 3 NFL Draft Picks and a talented transfer  in 2020.  The tremendous O-Line recruiting under Kirby Smart will ease the transition some but replacing Andrew Brown & Co. is a tall order.  There is still plenty of talented experience in Jamaree Salyer, Ben Cleveland, Trey Hill, and Justin Shaffer.  The main concern is a lack of proven depth and the development of talented redshirt freshmen Xavier Truss on Newman’s blindside.  The expectation is the line will be plenty good, just not on the level of the 2019 line that protected Georgia QB Jake Fromm. 

Enter the athleticism and playmaking ability of Jamie Newman.  The new Georgia QB will allow the offensive line to settle in to their new roles and minimize concerns of diminished depth.  Newman will be able to avoid SEC pass rushers enough times to connect with his big play targets downfield.  Fans should envision Newman escaping pressure only to eat up the void of green left by defenders for first downs.  This will allow Georgia’s offense to stay on schedule, frustrate the opposition, and give the Dawgs skill players another chance to make a big play.

You better believe Jamie Newman has the attention of the SEC, but attention alone won’t be able to stop him.  

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