South Carolina Football: Top 5 Quarterbacks on Gamecocks’ Schedule
By Jacob Elsey
#2. JAMIE NEWMAN
Newman will be a new name for SEC fans to learn next season, but they’ll become acquainted with the Wake Forest transfer quickly. As the Demon Deacons’ starter under center last year, he threw for 2,868 yards and 26 touchdowns. Both of those marks ranked among the top five in the ACC. He also topped 75 yards on the ground in four games, including rushing for a season-high144 late in the year against Duke.
Newman takes over a Georgia team that will be loaded on offense. As long as the Bulldogs can replace a couple first-round picks along the offensive line, the North Carolina native should have plenty of options at the skill positions. The Dawgs are always stacked at running back and it will be fun to see Newman build a rapport with wide receivers Demetris Robertson and George Pickens.
Newman does have a few kinks in his armor, though. He threw double digit interceptions a year ago, and faded a bit in the second half of the year. Wake Forest lost four of its final five games, with Newman throwing six picks and completing less than 50% of his passes over that span. He lost his top two options at receiver and may have been battling some injuries himself, but Newman only managed to muster 71 yards in a loss to Syracuse and 41 yards in a defeat to Clemson last November.
Still, SportingNews ranks Newman among the top 10 quarterbacks in the country. He is the SEC’s favorite to win the Heisman trophy next season, according to William Hill sportsbook, with 10/1 odds. He’s also been skyrocketing up NFL draft boards and remains a projected first-round pick in 2021.