Published Oct 2, 2017
Take Two: Will UGA's QB depth push Fields away from Bulldogs?
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Adam Gorney  •  Rivals.com
National Recruiting Director
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@adamgorney

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.

MORE TAKE TWO: Saquon Barkley | Georgia | Trevor Lawrence

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STORYLINE

Georgia is playing exceptional football, and that could help in the decision-making process of five-star quarterback Justin Fields. But would there be any concern on Fields’ part that freshman QB Jake Fromm is a big reason for the Bulldogs’ success and that earning the starting job over Fromm on day one would be a tremendous challenge?

Surely, the Bulldogs have taken positive steps forward for the Kennesaw (Ga.) Harrison standout with their play so far this season, whipping Mississippi State two weeks ago and humiliating Tennessee this past weekend en route to a 5-0 record.

Florida State struggled in a win at Wake Forest and the offensive line looks horrendous, but the quarterback position seems far more unsettled with the Seminoles. Could Fields see that as his opportunity to start earlier?

Is starting on day one even one of the most crucial factors in Fields’ thinking?

Rated as the top dual-threat quarterback and the No. 2 prospect in the 2018 class, Fields has all the tools to be special immediately in college. Georgia is playing great football to start the season, but Fromm is a big reason why, and unseating him could be tough. Former five-star Jacob Eason, coming off injury, is also in Athens.

Will that concern Fields as he moves forward with his recruitment? Will the five-star instead opt for the school – Florida State, or LSU, or even possibly Alabama – that will have a more wide-open quarterback competition after this season?

It sure seems – as of now – that the Bulldogs are in great shape at the position.

FIRST TAKE: CHAD SIMMONS, RIVALS.COM SOUTHEAST RECRUITING ANALYST

“Georgia's play in 2017 is helping their chances with Fields more than it is hurting them. Jake Fromm has performed well for a true freshman, but Fields still sees Georgia does not have a quarterback like him on campus. The way Georgia has improved in year two under Kirby Smart has the Bulldogs trending for the No. 2 prospect in the country. He has now taken official visits to Alabama and LSU, with Alabama considered more of a threat than the Tigers at this time, but it is still Florida State that is considered Georgia's biggest competitor. The Seminoles have struggled this season, and their offensive line play has not been strong the last two, so that is something Fields is still examining, too. There is a chance he is in Tallahassee this weekend for the Miami game. If he shows up, that will be big for Florida State, as they now seem to be chasing Georgia.” - Simmons

SECOND TAKE: MIKE FARRELL, RIVALS.COM NATIONAL RECRUITING DIRECTOR

“It’s a tough call. They only have two (scholarship) quarterbacks on the roster at Georgia, and if Eason transfers it will obviously be one. Everything is pointing to Georgia now, the way they’re playing, the excitement that is around that program. Florida State is just not a good-looking football team at all. Watching them against Wake Forest, there’s no way I thought that was a team loaded with four- and five-star kids.

“He’s going to look at the talent that surrounds him, and right now the younger talent at Georgia on offense and defense certainly looks more impressive than at Florida State, so I think he’ll choose Georgia.” - Farrell