Take Two returns with a daily offering tackling a handful of issues in the college football landscape. Rivals.com National Recruiting Analyst Adam Gorney lays out the situation and then receives takes from Rivals.com National Recruiting Director Mike Farrell and a local expert from the Rivals.com network of team sites.
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THE STORYLINE
Jake Fromm is Georgia’s starting quarterback. He led the Bulldogs to an SEC championship and a spot in the national title game. He was only a freshman and looks to have a bright future in Athens.
But Justin Fields is a five-star quarterback (like Fromm) who signed with Georgia this past recruiting cycle and might be too talented to just stand on the sidelines for a couple years with a headset on waiting for his time.
Fromm snatched the starting job away from former five-star Jacob Eason when he went down with an injury and Fromm never looked back. He was outstanding in relief and earned the starting job.
Can Fields work his way onto the field in certain packages or can the former Kennesaw (Ga.) Harrison star possibly even compete for the starting position against Fromm once spring ball starts later this month?
Before you say that’s ridiculous, did anyone think Alabama would replace its starting quarterback in Jalen Hurts, who was 26-2 as a starter, at halftime of the national championship game only to go with an unproven freshman who led the Crimson Tide back from a 13-0 halftime deficit to beat Georgia in overtime?
Anything can happen in college football, especially in the SEC. Georgia has a good quarterback problem to have and now it needs to figure out which one can lead it to the top of the SEC.
FIRST TAKE: ANTHONY DASHER, UGASPORTS.COM
“Georgia fans were ecstatic, and rightfully so, when Justin Fields committed and ultimately signed to play for Kirby Smart. The Bulldogs haven’t had a quarterback come through Athens with a similar skill set since D.J. Shockley played for Georgia 13 years ago.
“Fields could have signed with any number of programs and been a starter his freshman year. That’s not the case at Georgia. Jake Fromm enjoyed a splendid rookie season with the Bulldogs, setting a school freshman record for touchdown passes (24), completing 181-of-291 passes for 2,615 yards and leading the Bulldogs to the national championship against Alabama.
“When Georgia begins spring practice on March 20, Fields will be given every opportunity to win the starting job, just like Fromm did last year against Jacob Eason.
Knowing how ultra-competitive Fromm is, look for the sophomore to welcome the challenge, and it’s my belief Fields’ presence will push him more than ever before. In the end, I just don’t see Fields winning the job. Not that he won’t play. He will. There will be no redshirt.
“We’ve already mentioned Fields’ skill set. He brings an aspect to the quarterback position that Georgia hasn’t had for a while, so look for offensive coordinator Jim Chaney to design some packages for Fields to take advantage of that talent. While it’s doubtful the Bulldogs would go to a two-quarterback system, coaches want to give opposing defensive coordinators something extra to worry about, and having some plays specifically designed for Fields will certainly do that.”
SECOND TAKE: MIKE FARRELL, RIVALS.COM
“He will be on the field. They will put packages in for him and I think it would be an injury that would allow Justin Fields to get the starting job. I don’t think Fields is going to outplay Jake Fromm. That’s what happened with Eason, the window of opportunity opened and Fromm jumped right through it and never looked back.
“If Fromm gets hurt I think Fields could do the same thing but I don’t think it’s going to be a competition where Fields is going to win the job outright. He’s too talented to stay on the sidelines. He’ll definitely play in certain packages.”