Skip to main content
georgia logo

Georgia Bulldogs Countdown to Kickoff: Day 18

Jake Reuseby:Jake Reuse•08/16/22•

ReuseRecruiting

jt-daniels-georgia-football-quarterback-reportedly-making-push-play-uab
Todd Kirkland via Getty Images.

I’m back from vacation, and I return with just 18 days until Georgia football is set to meet Oregon between the Maybach and Delta 360 on-field terraces (doesn’t have quite the same ring as the hedges, does it?).

To mark the occasion, we’re looking back on the wild ride of the man who kicked off Georgia’s season under center — JT Daniels.

In terms of weird paths, Daniels has certainly had one of the most memorable in recent Bulldogs’ history.

One of the nation’s most coveted recruits in the Class of 2018, Daniels was originally slated to be in the Class of 2019. Instead, he took the opportunity to reclassify and was still considered a Consensus five-star prospect, coming in as the nation’s No. 13 overall player and No. 3 quarterback, trailing only current Jacksonville Jaguars starter Trevor Lawrence and current Chicago Bears (and one-time Bulldog) Justin Fields.

Daniels began his career with the Trojans of Southern California, and he came out of the gate swinging.

He would start 11 games in Los Angeles his freshman year and looked to have a very promising future befitting of the lofty ranking.

Unfortunately, his sophomore year would be derailed by injury, landing him with a medical redshirt.

Kedon Slovis would step into the starting role and would retain the job even following Daniels’ injury (though Slovis would eventually end up with the Pittsburgh Panthers, where he is expected to start this year).

After the pecking order seemingly became clear following the Trojans’ spring practice, Daniels would begin to explore options and in May of 2020, he would ultimately announce his decision to land with the Georgia Bulldogs.

The fanfare was immense, and the expectations, even coming off of such a tough injury, were certainly high.

Ultimately, he would start four games in the 2020 COVID-shortened season and lead the Bulldogs to victory in all of them, including a Peach Bowl win.

That did little to quell the hype moving into 2021, and Daniels stepped into the starting role for Georgia’s opening game against Clemson Tigers and would win his fifth straight game as a Bulldog.

However, by game two against UAB, he would suffer a strain that would keep him out of the game and the recovery window would extend for some time.

In the meantime, Stetson Bennett would rise to the occasion for the Bulldogs and never look back.

You probably know how that whole story ends…

But, as a member of the National Championship run and the leader of a crucial win to start the season, we’re tipping our cap to the newly minted Mountaineer.

Here’s to the former #18, whose number is now being carried by Xavian Sorey and CJ Smith.

You may also like