Fromm and the freshman

The Associated Press Georgia’s shot caller facing major challenge from new kid on block

ATHENS, Ga.—Jake Fromm knows Georgia coach Kirby Smart isn’t afraid to play a freshman quarterback.

Last spring, Fromm was the new kid on campus. He used a strong first impression in spring practice as momentum to win the starting job and lead the Bulldogs to the Southeastern Conference championship and the national championship game.

This spring, with Georgia still recovering from the national championship game loss to Alabama, Fromm is the returning starter. But he’ll be pushed by a challenge from highly recruited freshman Justin Fields.

Fromm realizes Fields is eager to impress the coaches and move up the depth chart.

“Absolutely. I expect nothing but Justin to come out and compete,” Fromm said after Thursday’s practice.

Just as Fromm learned last year from Jacob Eason, he is trying to help Fields, who brings a new challenge to the competition as a dual-threat quarterback.

“The same way Jacob was to me, I try to be that way for Justin,” Fromm said. “You want to help a guy out, especially a teammate, any way you can. Helping him out is only going to make you better and is going to make the team better.”

Eason started the 2017 opening game against Appalachian State, but sprained his left knee in the first quarter. Fromm took over and never lost the job. Eason has transferred to Washington.

That leaves Fromm and Fields in the spotlight for the G-Day spring game on April 21.

Fields, a five-star recruit who helped give Georgia the nation’s top-rated signing class in February, enrolled early. The team has not made Fields or other freshmen available for interviews.

So far, there’s no indication Fromm is in danger of losing his starting job.

Smart said last week Fields was “hitting a little bit of a wall” that is expected of first-year players as they try to learn the playbook and adjust to college.