Eason ‘electric’ at times in spring game

ATHENS — Georgia quarterbacks Jacob Eason and Jake Fromm had the stage Saturday, when the Bulldogs’ G-Day spring game was designed to feature the passing game.

The results were mixed, especially for Eason, the sophomore returning starter.

Eason flashed what coach Kirby Smart calls “electric throws” that enabled the quarterback to win the starting job as a true freshman in 2016. He also remained prone to mistakes, and threw an interception that Smart said “just shouldn’t happen to him at this point in time.”

Fromm, who enrolled early this spring, becoming one of the top names in Georgia’s 2017 recruiting class, matched Eason’s two scoring passes. Fromm had a higher completion percentage without an interception while leading the Red team to a 25-22 win over Eason’s Black team in the scrimmage. Georgia quarterback Jacob Eason throws downfield during Georgia’s G-Day spring game.

Running backs Nick Chubb and Sony Michel were mostly spectators. The John Roark / Athens Banner-Herald via AP

two, who combined for more than 2,000 yards rushing in 2016, are established stars who are expected to be the focus of the offense in 2017.

Saturday was about learning more about the young quarterbacks and their receivers. Fromm showed the poise that has earned him compliments this spring. He threw a 38-yard pass to Mecole Hardman on a fourth-and-12 play that set up Rodrigo Blankenship’s 28-yard field goal to give the Red team the lead.

Fromm completed 14 of 23 passes for 277 yards with two touchdowns.

Chubb said Fromm “adjusted well” to the college game at a time when he should be finishing his final year in high school.

“Nothing hindered him at all,” Chubb said. “He came in and from the first day it’s been like he’s been here for a couple years. He did everything well, making checks, making passes he’s been asked to make.”

Smart insisted early in the spring schedule that Fromm would provide legitimate competition for Eason. Even so, there was every indication on Saturday that Eason remains firmly established as the starter.