‘Ready to get to work’: Georgia lands Wake Forest grad transfer QB Jamie Newman

Jake Fromm announced Wednesday that he will skip his senior season at Georgia in favor of the NFL Draft. His potential successor will be a seasoned veteran.

Wake Forest graduate transfer quarterback Jamie Newman will join Georgia for his final season of collegiate eligibility, he confirmed Saturday via social media.

“I would like to thank the Lord for guiding me through this journey,” Newman shared via Twitter. “After careful evaluation, and guidance from my family, I have decided to enroll at the University of Georgia as a graduate transfer.

“As I look ahead, I am excited about joining such a great football program under the leadership of Coach [Kirby] Smart and offensive coordinator Coach [James] Coley. I believe in UGA’s amazing staff, great football program and the passionate fans supporting this team.”

The news comes at the end of a week Newman spent training in Atlanta, according to 247Sports. Multiple media outlets reported the move late Friday night, including ESPN, 247Sports and the Winston-Salem Journal.

Former UGA coach Mark Richt made a bold prediction about Newman via Twitter on Friday.

“I have been watching Jamie Newman all season with the ACC network,” Richt tweeted. “Georgia just landed a great one! I predict he will be the best quarterback in the SEC! Go Dawgs!”

Newman took over for the Demon Deacons as the starter in November 2018 after an injury to starter Sam Hartman. In his first career start on the road at No. 14 North Carolina State, he threw three touchdowns and led a touchdown drive for the win in the final minutes.

Then a redshirt sophomore, Newman started the final four games of the 2018 season for Wake Forest. He posted a 3-1 record and passed for just over 1,000 yards with nine touchdowns and three interceptions over that final month, adding 177 rushing yards and three touchdowns as well.

Entering 2019 cemented as the starter, Newman came out on fire. He threw for 1,278 yards and 12 touchdowns in the first four games of the same, although three of those performances came against Utah State, Rice and Elon.

As the season progressed into ACC play, Newman’s numbers came a bit more back to Earth. Over the final nine games he racked up 1,590 yards and 14 touchdowns. He had a trio of three-touchdown games, but he also threw multiple interceptions in three games as well.

Overall, Newman ended his final season in Winston-Salem completing 61 percent of his passes for 2,868 yards with 26 touchdowns and 11 interceptions. He averaged just under eight yards per attempt, about a half yard more than Fromm did in 2019.

Unlike Fromm, however, Newman also brings a running element to the quarterback position. In 2019 he rushed for 574 yards and six touchdowns.

“Dude is a stud!” Georgia great and ESPN personality David Pollack tweeted this week. “Size and athletic ability to go with a great arm, accuracy, and a phenomenal deep ball! Not many guys more talented in the Country.”

Newman’s addition could signal that head coach Kirby Smart and offensive coordinator James Coley plan to open up Georgia’s offense and incorporate more spread elements in 2020. The question of whether that will translate to increased success, as it has for LSU, won’t be answered until this fall.

But as for who will be running the offense when the season kicks off on Sept. 7 against Virginia, that question seems to have been answered.

“I am ready to get ready to get to work,” Newman said on Twitter, ready to make new friendships and committed to contributing to this great program. UGA & Coach Smart, thank you for this amazing opportunity.

This journey will surely be one that I will never forget.”

This story was originally published January 10, 2020 at 10:58 PM.