Former Georgia quarterback JT Daniels announces commitment to Big 12 contender

Former Georgia and USC quarterback JT Daniels will transfer to West Virginia, according to ESPN’s Pete Thamel. The former five-star recruit will reunite with former offensive coordinator Graham Harrell, who also served as the quarterbacks coach during his time with the Trojans.

Over four seasons and two transfers, new West Virginia quarterback JT Daniels has played in just 21 games due to injuries. However, when on the field he has produced 4,840 passing yards with 32 touchdowns and 16 interceptions.

After starting his career at USC, the young star lost his job while out with injury as a sophomore. With the Trojans deciding to stick with their new signal caller rather than switch back, he transferred to Georgia as one of the biggest names on the market.

After taking most of 2020 to get healthy before starting the final games, Georgia head coach Kirby Smart declared him the starter for 2021. Then, Daniels missed a start with an oblique injury, and Stetson Bennett started in his place. He was once again sidelined with an injury after two appearances and Bennett became the full-time starter.

Daniels list of suiters this time around included Missouri, Oregon State and West Virginia. After taking multiple visits in March, he took a visit with the Mountaineers last weekend and quickly made the move official.

He entered the transfer portal later than expected but is ranked as the No. 13 quarterback to enter the portal this offseason per the On3 Transfer Portal Rankings, and he was also the top remaining quarterback available after several others came off the board.

West Virginia adds Graham Harrell

After serving as USC’s offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach from 2019-2021, Graham Harrell is moving across the country to join the West Virginia program in the same roles.

Harrell, a Texas native, spent the 2016-2018 seasons as the offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach at North Texas before being hired at USC. Harrell was not retained by the new Trojans’ staff after Clay Helton was fired.

Now 36, Harrell played quarterback at Texas Tech before getting into the coaching field in a quality control role at Oklahoma State in 2009. He spent the 2014 and 2015 seasons at Washington State as an offensive analyst and then outside wide receivers coach prior to going to North Texas.

Harrell takes over a West Virginia offense that averaged 328 yards and 25 points per game this past season. The Mountaineers went 6-7 overall. His presence already appears to have paid off.