Former 5-star, Southern Cal QB will transfer to Georgia. What it means for Bulldogs
Georgia has reached its hand back into the 2018 recruiting class. This time, however, it is adding a top-rated quarterback rather than seeing one transfer away.
The Bulldogs added JT Daniels from the transfer market, formerly a starting quarterback at Southern California. Daniels threw for 2,672 yards and 14 touchdowns as a freshman with the Trojans, but then suffered a torn ACL injury in 2019 and was supplanted by Kedon Slovis. Daniels would have three seasons to play after receiving a medical redshirt.
The match between Georgia and Daniels was first reported by UGASports.com. Daniels was listed in the UGA student directory as of Thursday afternoon under his full name, “Jonathan Tyler Daniels.”
“Excited for the future,” Daniels wrote in a tweet Thursday.
Daniels would have to sit out during the 2020 season unless a transfer waiver is approved or if the NCAA passes legislation to permit a one-time transfer with immediate eligibility.
Georgia has played a major role in the transfer carousel throughout Kirby Smart’s first five seasons at the helm. It saw the five-star talents of Jacob Eason (class of 2017) and Justin Fields (2018) play elsewhere. The Bulldogs have added quarterbacks — Daniels and graduate transfer Jamie Newman — during the same offseason.
“He’s trying to compete at every position and stack the room right now. It’s all about immediacy for him,” said Jake Reuse, a recruiting analyst for UGASports.com who broke the Daniels’ news. “Each move you’ve seen him make, it points to win now mode. He might have flashbacks to last year with how thin they were in the room. Rather than leave anything to chance, you’ve got a chance to get a kid on campus right away.”
Once more, Georgia’s quarterback room is loaded with arms that were highly touted as recruits. There are only three spots on the depth chart, however, and only one will get a bulk of playing time as the starting quarterback.
If Daniels isn’t eligible until 2021, Georgia will have to iron out a deep competition for the starting role. The Bulldogs have five-star Brock Vandagriff, a local product out of Prince Avenue Christian School, in the fold as the No. 2 dual-threat quarterback in the class. Georgia will have D’Wan Mathis, a former four-star, and 2020 signee Carson Beck on the roster.
Four quarterbacks who anticipated playing time will enter Todd Monken’s quarterback room. It’s uncertain as to how the situation shakes out once Daniels arrives, but the Bulldogs could headline the transfer portal buzz once more when a starting quarterback is decided — for 2020 and 2021.
This story was originally published May 28, 2020 at 4:13 PM.