Georgia QB Fromm faces challenging first start at Notre Dame

ATHENS, Ga.—Notre Dame coach Brian Kelly sees the same thing on tape that Georgia fullback Christian Payne immediately spotted from the opening snaps of spring practice:

Jake Fromm has a presence. Fromm, the freshman quarterback, flourished in a relief role for No. 15 Georgia last week when he replaced injured starter Jacob Eason and led the Bulldogs to a 31-10 win over Appalachian State.

“I thought him commanding the huddle was like that of a vet, someone who has done it for four or five years,” said Payne, a senior.

Leading Georgia to a home win over Appalachian State was impressive. Today, Georgia will ask Fromm to make his first start at No. 24 Notre Dame. That’s a challenge on a much higher level.

Fromm’s teammates insist he won’t be awed by what may be the nation’s most renowned facility.

Kelly agrees.

“I really like Jake Fromm,” Kelly said Tuesday. “You know, I think everybody says, well, he’s a freshman, and you know, he’s only had a couple of snaps. But look, I’m not an expert, but you know, I’ve been in this game a while, and he’s got a presence about him, and he’s very comfortable running the Georgia offense.”

Appalachian State coach Scott Satterfield saw a change in the Georgia offense with Fromm. He noted Eason, the sophomore, “was a little shaky to start the game” and “Fromm played well throughout the rest of the day.”

Fromm might have been on track for a redshirt season before Eason suffered a sprained left knee midway through the opening quarter. Just like that, Fromm was in the next huddle in front of more than 92,000 fans at Sanford Stadium.

Fromm completed his first two passes on his first drive. Each of the next three possessions led by the freshman produced touchdowns.

From the very start, Fromm showed the same poise, passing finesse and decision-making skills that made him a top recruit at Houston County High School in Warner Robins, Georgia.

Following the game, Georgia coach Kirby Smart said “There has not been a moment that’s been too big for Jake Fromm since he’s been a little kid. He’s always been that way.”

Kelly said Fromm “Just has that ‘it’ as a quarterback.”

Fromm made a quick impression when he enrolled early for spring practice and already knew the Georgia playbook.

Today’s SEC Games

11 a.m.-Eastern Kentucky at Kentucky, SEC Network

11 a.m.-UT-Martin at Ole Miss, SEC Network 2:30 p.m.-TCU at Arkansas, CBS

2:30 p.m.-Fresno State at Alabama, ESPN2 3 p.m.-Indiana State at Tennessee, SEC Network

3 p.m.-Alabama A&M at Vanderbilt, SEC

Network

6 p.m.-Nicholls State at Texas A&M, ESPNU 6 p.m.-Auburn at Clemson, ESPN 6 p.m.-South Carolina at Missouri, ESPN2 6:30 p.m.-Chattanooga at LSU, SEC Network 6:30 p.m.-Georgia at Notre Dame, NBC

6:30 p.m.-Mississippi State at Louisiana Tech, CBS Sports Network