Onward and upward in Tuscaloosa

If you’d like to know whom the entire Alabama fanbase is already hailing as a vast improvement over Scott Cochran, here ‘ya go.

If they’re such a big step up, it kind of makes you wonder why Saban didn’t hire them years ago, but what do I know?

Springtime for quarterbacks

Okay, so here’s the field, come G-Day:

Jamie Newman (Graduate): After a fourth-year junior season at Wake Forest where the 6-foot-4 230-pound triggerman completed 61 percent of his passes for 2,868 yards, 26 touchdowns and 11 interceptions, Newman is at UGA and is the heavy favorite to win the starting job. He’s a mobile quarterback, having rushed for 574 yards and five touchdowns a year ago. He thrives in the designed-run game where he can break tackles and pick up the tough yardage but he’s also an adept downfield passer.

Stetson Bennett IV (Fourt-year junior): The former walk-on served as Georgia’s backup in 2019. He only played in a few games but he used those opportunities to give fans a glimpse as to why the first-team 2017 defense had so much trouble with him. He has a strong arm, a quick release, and is lighting quick in the pocket. He’s going to have his hands full when it comes to holding off younger guys.

D’Wan Mathis (Redshirt freshman): The 6-foot-5 signal caller is back to where he was last spring. He missed the entire 2019 season after having surgery to remove a cyst from his brain in may, but he’ll be cleared for the 2020 season. The Bulldogs don’t hit the quarterback in practice so Mathis won’t have to worry about contact until he appears in his first game. Just like last spring, he’ll be learning a new offense but he’ll be doing so with a full year of college life under his belt.

Carson Beck (Freshman): The former four-star prospect already has a couple of UGA practices under his belt. He joined the team early enough to participate in the last couple of workouts in Athens before the Bulldogs left for the Allstate Sugar Bowl. He’s a big, talented player who is still a bit raw at the quarterback position. Football didn’t become his primary sport until early in his high school career. This spring will probably be a struggle for him because that’s how it is for most freshmen quarterbacks, but he’s in the mix for the backup job and will be gunning for the top spot.

About that group and spring practice, Jake Rowe has this to say:

We’ll be shocked if Smart even hints at Newman being named the starter. He wants to keep the competition open and all contenders engaged as long as possible, but we do expect to see a “wow” play or two from Newman and the other three at some point during the spring game. When G-Day rolls around, it’s going to be a passing display. It always is.

So, your best guess as to who plays the most at G-Day?  Who turns in the top QBR?  Any other QB predictions?

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