One of college football’s most intriguing quarterback prospects won’t get a chance to prove himself on the gridiron in 2020.
Instead, Jamie Newman’s preparation for the pro game will begin, in earnest, away from the playing field:
https://twitter.com/jlmn12_/status/1301248043157729283?s=20
Newman’s decision to opt out and turn his focus on getting ready for the NFL Draft is a fascinating one, especially as you start peeling back the layers. For instance, one football writer believes Newman’s departure from UGA impacts the Bulldogs’ national championship aspirations. And that’s a pretty big deal. But beyond that, I find the NFL ramifications to be far more interesting.
Newman, 22, transferred from Wake Forest to Georgia with the idea of boosting his draft stock. Moving to Georgia figured to lift Newman’s draft projection from being a middle-round pick to a possible first-rounder. Heck, some way-too-early 2021 mock drafts projected Newman to go in Round 1 — to the Bears, no less. Even if Newman didn’t build on his 2,868-yard, 26-touchdown season at Wake Forest, it would have been nice to see what he looked like against superior competition than what he saw in the ACC. Alas, seeing a QB prospect with upside try his hand at getting it done in the SEC isn’t in the cards.
And considering that the Bears will likely be looking to draft a quarterback in 2021, this development is a bit of a bummer.