USC quarterback JT Daniels entered the transfer portal and will leave the Pac-12 to compete against fierce SEC defenses as the Georgia Bulldogs’ next QB.
Daniels hopes he won’t have to sit out this season at Georgia and applied for an exemption since he missed most of last season with a knee injury. If he doesn’t have to sit out, Daniels will compete with Jamie Newman for the starting QB job. Newman, the former starter for Wake Forest, headed to Georgia as a graduate transfer. Either Newman or Daniels will replace Jake Fromm.
Fromm, a high school legend out of Warner Robbins, Georgia (just south of Macon), won the starting QB job as a freshman and led Georgia to the national championship game. Georgia lost to Alabama in overtime in the 2017 championship.
In three seasons with Georgia, Fromm finished with a 36-7 record as the starting quarterback.
In his freshman year, Fromm threw 24 touchdowns and seven interceptions. During Fromm’s sophomore season, he tossed 30 touchdowns and six interceptions. This past season, Fromm only connected on 24 touchdowns, but only threw five picks.
Fromm left school early to head to the NFL, which left Georgia scrambling for a quarterback. The Buffalo Bills selected Fromm in the fifth round of the 2020 NFL Draft.
LA to Athens
Daniels missed the majority of 2019 due to a season-ending injury. He blew out his knee in the first game of the season. Third-stringer Kedon Slovis stepped up for the USC Trojans. Slovis won the Pac-12 Offensive Freshman of the Year after he tossed 30 touchdowns and passed for more than 3,500 yards.
With head coach Clay Helton banking on Slovis as the starting QB again this season, Daniels decided to roll the dice. He entered the transfer portal.
“We have been working with JT and his family, as well as our compliance office, to help him navigate the process of entering his name in the transfer portal,” said Helton. “It is his desire to explore all of his options going into the 2020 season. We will continue to support JT in every way possible and help him through his decision, including the option of staying on with our football team.”
Daniels started at QB for USC in 2018. He passed for 2,672 yards with 14 touchdowns and 10 interceptions. Daniels led USC to two big victories against Pac-12 foes. He threw three touchdowns in a 39-36 shootout against Washington State. He also connected on three touchdowns in a 31-20 upset over #19 Colorado.
Helton wanted Daniels to stick around as the backup, but he respected his decision to seek playing time elsewhere.
“I love this university, coaching staff, and team,” said Daniels. “To me, it is in my best interest to explore all my options going into the 2020 season. I will remain in contact with the coaching staff through the process. USC remains one of my options, and that door has remained open for me.”
USC recruited Daniels as the replacement for QB Sam Darnold, who was the third-overall pick with the New York Jets in the 2018 NFL Draft.