Watson’s influence on the Senior Bowl: It has been 13 months since Jamie Newman played in a football game, so it may seem a little strange when the former Wake Forest and Georgia quarterback gives the American team a chance at the Senior Bowl on Saturday. But thanks in large part to the extensive daily workouts that have been taking place since October, Newman said he did not feel rusty in practice.
He played five days a week with his private defender coach, Quincy Avery, and remained in top physical shape.
“Football is like riding a bike for me,” said Newman. “It’s a game I’ve loved since I was 5 years old.”
Newman is one of several Senior Bowl players who chose not to participate in the entire 2020 football season amid the COVID-19 pandemic, along with CB Ambry Thomas and WR Nico Collins from Michigan, Wake Forest WR Sage Surratt, Oregon CB Thomas Graham Jr. and Washington DT Levi Onwuzurike. For all of them, 2020 represents a lost experience that can never be recovered, at least as a prospecting project. But Newman did everything he could to minimize the impact. He also had a chance to catch the brain of one of the best NFL quarterbacks.
“I had the pleasure of sitting with Deshaun Watson a few times, learning how he plans,” said Newman. “It was a special opportunity.”
Newman played for Wake Forest in 2019, then moved to Georgia, but never played for Bulldogs due to his opt-out decision. Saturdays in the fall were mainly rest days for Newman, and he was involved in as much college football as he could absorb, watching eight or ten games. If Wake Forest and Georgia were at the same time, he would not miss a move.
“I would have Wake on my TV and Georgia on my laptop,” said Newman. “I only used Saturdays to fuel my fire.”