Derek Mason says Kirby Smart ‘isn’t fooling him’ by not naming Georgia’s starting QB

The Vanderbilt Commodores will host the No. 5 Georgia Bulldogs in Nashville on Saturday. In the days leading up to the game, Bulldogs head coach Kirby Smart has not named a starting quarterback. True freshman Jake Fromm has been the starter ever since then-starter Jacob Eason went down with a knee injury early in the Dawgs’ season opener against Appalachian State. Vandy head coach Derek Mason still believes Fromm will get the start, despite Smart not naming a guy.

He added that Smart “isn’t fooling him” when it comes to who the starter is.

“Right now, I believe Fromm is the guy,” Mason said Wednesday, as transcribed by SEC Country. “I believe Eason is an extremely talented quarterback. But that’s up to Kirby who he decides to go with. I mean he’s not fooling me, if that’s what we think we’re doing here. That young man, Fromm’s won ballgames. He just came off a [41-0] win.”

When Smart was asked if Fromm will start again this week, Smart didn’t exactly give a definitive answer.

“It’s not something we have to announce, Smart said via SEC Country. “We’re not announcing who the starting left corner or right corner is. We’re going to announce it based on how they practice.”

Georgia announced before its Week 2 game against Notre Dame that Eason suffered a sprained ligament in his left knee, but that it wouldn’t require surgery, and Smart said he’d be back “this year.” He added that Eason is “much closer” to 100 percent this week.

It’s easy to see why Mason believes Fromm is the guy — the former four-star recruit has thrown six touchdowns and just one interception over the Dawgs’ last three games. Even if Eason was healthy enough to play, there would be no real reason to make the change at almost the midpoint of the season when Fromm has looked as good as he has.

We’ll see who comes out under center on Saturday, but if I had to bet, my money would be on Fromm.