I met TL a while back...he's good friends with my cousin who played with him at Cartersville. He's a great kid. He looks kinda lanky out there around all of the big OLmen, but trust me, he's a BIG kid and got a great attitude. Too bad he didn't want to become a dawg. But alas, we got our own superstar QB, right?

Someone is bound to bring this up soon now that TL has been named the start vs Syracuse Saturday for the Tigers, so we might as well just throw it out there and start raising a collective eyebrow about our QB situation vs Clemsons.

So we now must assume that TL is better than Bryant, right? Fields only took one snap against Mizzou and then vanished. He's not getting anywhere near the playing time that TL has gotten. So....is there anything here to debate? Is he overrated and TL was really the star of the class? Is Fromm just that good that if he played for Clemson, he'd still have TL being a backup? Or is Fromm just that much better than Bryant?

My personal opinion is, there's no sense in debating the issues. We run a different type O than Clemson. They are definitely a throw first team, and we are a ground and pound with RB after RB and occasionally get Fromm to pass, but when he does, he's lethal. It's just two different systems and so there is no need in comparing. JF came here, because he is a dual threat guy and he will probably get to use his feet more. I still think JF ends up in the NFL...but so does TL. At some point in time, these two kids are going to square off...maybe in the CPO this year, who knows?

But I don't think it's fair for everyone to start putting down the coaching staff for not going harder after TL....we got us a stud. He just needs to get fed. And his time will come,. trust me. JMHO.

Thoughts?

This has been discussed on other boards I visit and read (don't post because I am not paying). So here is what I have gathered and also what I believe is the case.

Fromm>Bryant

Bryant was 18-2 as a starting QB which is not too shabby but much like Hurts, he was nowhere near as talented as the kid coming in to take his spot. And let's remember, Bryant was a 3 star prospect, I think Hurts was maybe a 4 star, but TL, Tua and Fields were all 5 star. Fromm was a 4 star by most and 5 star by at least one service. Eason was also a 5 star. In other words, UGA has had THREE 5 star QB's on campus in the last 3 years, not the case at Clemson or Bama (Clemson did have 5 star Hunter Johnson who has long since transferred). SOO...Fromm is better than Bryant or Hurts, Fromm is not as physically gifted as TL, Fields or Tua but he is a smart kid, makes mostly good decisions and knows our offense.

TL>Fields

This is NOT based on who I think will eventually be the best QB, but let's not forget, TL started as a FR in HS, and won multiple state titles, he has been talked about for many years-almost like the Georgia version of Matthew Stafford-folks been talking up Trev for a long time. Fields was not as highly regarded even up to his JR year of HS, I think, could be wrong but I believe he was at first a 3 star QB but he just exploded during his JR year and for year the summer before his SR year to where he was surpassing TL in some recruiting rankings. All that being said, TL was the most college ready of the three, as I include Tua here as well. And remember, Tua didn't play much last year as Hurts backup, he just had a great second half (we helped make him a star with some poor tackling and coverage) and now he is Heisman front runner.

Bottom line to me is this, our coaches do not believe Fields is ready YET to lead our team play in and play out. They did insert him for the one play last week-which was the first time they inserted him in the redzone and in a game that was tight. I look for that to continue, with the LSU game being the target date to start letting him be the QB in some situations-especially the redzone. I feel very confident that our coaches are building to that level and are waiting until they believe he is ready and the situation is right. What you don't want to create is a full blown QB controversy during the season. Clemson has kind of created that, and they are lucky they play such a weak schedule or it could be an issue. I would imagine that Fields is going to be used more and more as this season goes along, and then it will be a full force competition in the spring and that is when I believe Fields beats out Fromm. Fromm at that point may or may not transfer but he will have enough film stored up to where he can leave after his JR year-probably with degree in hand, and go to the NFL-if he is going to sit and watch, might as well get paid to do it. But he will have tape to show the NFL what he can do, and he will also be able to show them at workouts. Just my two cents.

Btw, Clemson's senior starting QB Kelly Bryant informed HC Dabo Swinney today that he plans to transfer after getting benched in favor of 5* freshman QB Trevor Lawrence. In 29 games for the Tigers, Bryant completed 310 of 469 (66.1%) passes for 3,333 yds w/ 16 TDs & 10 INTs. He also rushed 257x for 987 yds (avg. 3.8 ypc) and scored 16 TDs. QBR 132.8

http://www.espn.com/college-football/story/_/id/24801672/demoted-clemson-tigers-qb-kelly-bryant-says-transfer

Hmmmm...., dunno..! Heard some flappin round, but.............dunno, for sure.

For starters, comparing Fromm to either Fields or Lawrence is apples to oranges not only because of Fromm's ability & experience, but perhaps more importantly because of the confidence that he has earned from both the coaches and his teammates. Playing QB at the D1 level is more than just who has the best physical tools, but keep in mind Fromm is still a pretty gifted athlete. He had a tighter grip on the starter's job than did Bryant, so it would be more difficult for anyone to come in and unseat him, whether that was Fields, Lawrence or anyone else. Winning the job is one thing, winning the team is another.

At this point, it remains to be seen who the better QB is between Fields and Lawrence. Trevor has gotten more PT early simply because Bryant did not have the stranglehold on the starting spot that Fromm does. Fields is nothing short of a phenom, and he may well prove to be better than Lawrence. The sample size is small, but the early returns are pretty good:

https://www.profootballfocus.com/news/pff-college-top-ranked-true-freshmen-through-three-weeks

Plus, most of the defenses Clemson has faced have allowed a lot of passing yards (and Syracuse is currently 99th), so Trevor's numbers may be a bit inflated. They will not face a defense currently in the top 30 in passing yards allowed until South Carolina (currently 23, who of course we destroyed). And as such, they've been throwing it a lot more than we have (Jake Fromm has attempted only 16 more passes than the departed Kelly Bryant, and only 8 more than Lawrence).

Fields is a stud. He has all the tools that Lawrence has, and possibly even more. Remember, Fields dominated the Elite 11 (and to be honest, Lawrence looked like he didn't want to even be there any more after day 1), and that's a passing only competition. Plus he's one heck of a runner. He's just 4 games into his Freshman season. Like Darin said, his time will come. And when it does, we're all gonna be glad he's on our side.

Amen...as I've stated before...believe he, Fields, will be the best quarterback to ever play for UGA and that includes some pretty good ones before he leaves! Like stated...just have to be patient! Watching both compete during this Spring will be exciting to watch!

Great post Red, pretty much what I was getting at but I do think TLaw right NOW is better to take over-due to the offense Clemson runs, his experience in HS in a wide open offense etc. That being said, I believe Fields will be a better player in college sooner than later. If Bryant is not around for the A&M game, I think Clemson already has a loss, and there will be a game or two down the stretch where Lawrence WILL struggle and they better hope he doesn't lose them a game-and God forbid he gets injured as well.

I do think Dabo did Bryant a favor in regards to giving him another year to play, he started all 4 games and if he had played at all the rest of the way, his college career is over. So I think he made the wise choice because I do think TL is as good or better than him now, and is of course the future at Clemson. That being said, that decision could very well keep Clemson out of the final 4 this year and I don't think they will be as good next year as they are this year-all those DL studs gone, probably the DC gone, to me they NEED to win this year and I will predict someone is going to beat them with TL at QB. Looking at the schedule, don't be surprised if that game at FSU, game at BC or home against Duke might be a loss-and while they should beat Cuse at home, they have struggled the last few years with NCState-they get them after a bye so they should take care of them, but there are enough teams left that could give them a scare of two.

To me a big risk for Clemson. In the only game Clemson felt any pressure Lawrence didn't fare so well. It's easy to put up good numbers against nobodies. I think he is going to be a really good player but I think he is going to struggle in some tight games.

Here's some irony for ya... I met Trevor Lawrence right after Clemson they lost to Syracuse to last year. I told him, 'They sure could have used you the other night son.' He lived and said, 'Yes sir, they sure could have.' Now, he gets his chance in his first start against that very team.
But I like what Champ said about big game situations. Bryant was the hero of the TAM game...can TL rise to the occasion and play like a vet against a team with a pulse?