For the second year in a row, a College Football Playoff National Championship team will start a true freshman at quarterback. Alabama’s Jalen Hurts became the first in 2016, and Georgia’s Jake Fromm became the second when he took the field for a Rose Bowl win against Oklahoma.
6 things about Jake Fromm, the freshman QB who helped guide Georgia to the title game
When Fromm has to throw, he’s on target.
Photo by Matthew Stockman/Getty Images
Fromm wasn’t supposed to be in this position this season. He entered the season as Georgia’s backup behind five-star sophomore Jacob Eason. An Eason injury in Week 1 cracked open the door for Fromm, who has stayed in the job by calmly running a much-improved offense.
A few things about Fromm, briefly:
1. He was a big-time recruit, former Little League World Series player, and previously committed to Alabama.
The Warner Robins, Ga., native was the No. 3 pro-style passer and No. 44 overall player in the class of 2017, according to the 247Sports Composite. Before that:
He committed to Alabama in Oct. 2015. But in March 2016, Fromm announced he’d be going to Georgia instead.
Fromm’s change of plans had a lot to do with Kirby Smart, the former Alabama defensive coordinator and current Georgia head coach. Smart was heavily involved in Fromm’s recruitment at Alabama. When he left for the head job at Georgia after 2015, he kept recruiting the Georgian QB.
“I’m a relationship guy,” Fromm said shortly after completing the flip. “Coach Smart, he was kind of my head recruiter (at Alabama). Really fell in love with him and what he had to offer. And just really, when he went to Georgia, it opened up a lot of doors for me. And being a Dog, it’s what I grew up watching. It’s where I always wanted to be.”
2. He doesn’t have to throw a lot in UGA’s offense.
The Dawgs have a trio of star running backs: seniors Nick Chubb and Sony Michel and freshman D’Andre Swift. They have a punishing offensive line, which is only going to get better in the future because of elite recruiting. UGA has five tailbacks who have carried at least 50 times — and on about 60 percent of the Dawgs’ offensive snaps this year, combined. Fromm only throws about 19 passes per game.
3. When Fromm does throw, he throws well.
His touchdown-to-interception ratio is 21-to-5. He averages 9.4 yards per throw, the sixth-best mark nationally among qualified passers. He’s taken relatively few sacks: 16 in 14 games, with a sack on 5.8 percent of his drop backs.
In UGA’s Rose Bowl semifinal win against Oklahoma, Fromm’s 152.6 rating beat Heisman winner Baker Mayfield’s 147.7. From was 20-of-29 for 210 yards, two touchdowns, and no interceptions. He was also a shrewd decision-maker at the line, checking out one call to set up a Michel 38-yard touchdown run.
4. He’s a good runner, when UGA chooses to use him that way.
Filter out sacks, and Fromm has run for 5.8 yards per carry — 198 and three touchdowns across 34 carries. Fromm is a listed 6’2 and 225 pounds with the athleticism to get his big frame barreling downhill. He is a threat on the ground if left unchecked.
5. He’s been on a reality TV show.
It’s called QB1: Beyond the Lights. Here’s the first episode, which followed Fromm and two other top high school quarterbacks during their senior years.
6. He realizes that his name sounds like “Jake from State Farm,” the guy from those commercials you’ve seen before.
With that kind of awareness, it’s no wonder Fromm is so poised in the pocket.
Hey, Dawgs!
More at our UGA blog.
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