ATHENS — Jake Fromm started his collegiate career behind Jacob Eason, and he might just end it there, in terms of his 2020 NFL Draft stock.

ESPN draft analyst Mel Kiper Jr. ranks the current Georgia quarterback No. 5 at the position in the pay site article.

LSU’s Joe Burrow tops the list, Alabama’s Tua Tagovailoa is second, Oregon’s Justin Herbert is third, and Washington’s Eason, who began his career at UGA, is No. 4.

Fromm has not made any announcements about his future with the Bulldogs, about either coming back or going.

Coach Kirby Smart has been vague, stating only that Fromm would go through the same evaluation process with NFL personnel as other players before making an informed decision.

Fromm, 34-7 as UGA’s starter and 12-7 against Top 25 teams, appeared to suffer a lower body injury in the SEC Championship Game.

Jake’s plight

Fromm’s leg buckled when LSU NFL prospect Grant Delpit raced past Andrew Thomas and put a hit on the Georgia QB that left him limping after the SEC Championship Game.

Fromm was 20-of-43 passing for 225 yards with a touchdown and two interceptions, but he also had six passes dropped and was largely without Bell Cow back D’Andre Swift (shoulder).

Georgia bowl practices have been closed, so Fromm’s current status is unknown.

Fromm has dealt with what Smart referred to as “a merry-go-round” of receivers. Three underclassmen pass targets went pro, and J.J. Hollomon was kicked off the team last spring.

Lawrence Cager and Dominick Blaylock, Fromm’s two most reliable receivers this season, both suffered season-ending injuries.

Four other receivers have missed time with injuries, and another has dealt with at least one in-season suspension.

Other ranked Bulldogs

Thomas and fellow Bulldogs’ offensive tackle Isaiah Wilson, meanwhile, are no longer practicing with the team after declaring for the NFL draft.

Thomas is the highest-rated offensive lineman in the draft, according to Kiper, projected No. 9 overall.

Wilson, however, is not currently among the top 10 offensive tackles per Kiper’s list.

There are several steps to the NFL Draft evaluation process, however, and the 6-foot-7, 340-pound Wilson figures to benefit greatly from the NFL combine.

Swift is ranked No. 16 overall by Kiper, NFL scouts aware of how the Bulldogs’ gifted tailback added the power element to his run game along with his elite speed, vision and cutting ability.

Swift has said he will wait until after the bowl game to announce his NFL decision, but he said last year he was likely to turn pro.

Indeed, Swift’s bruised shoulder has led to back-to-back sub-par performances with two fumbles and limited carries in the past two outings. He might still elect to sit out the bowl game.

Swift, like Wilson, figures to benefit from the NFL combine and is the top-ranked running back according to Kiper Jr.

Fromm, Thomas, Swift and Rodrigo Blankenship are the only four Georgia players listed among the top 10 at their respective positions by Kiper.

Blankenship, like the other three UGA players ranked, did not finish the season well, missing 3 of his last 5 field goal attempts.

All-Star Invites

Blankenship is the only Georgia player at this point with an accepted invitation to the Reese’s Senior Bowl.

Receiver Lawrence Cager and tight end Eli Wolf have accepted invites to the East-West Shrine Game in St. Petersburg, Fla.

Safety J.R. Reed, defensive lineman Tyler Clark, tailback Brian Herrien and tight end Charlie Woerner were other seniors talked about in all-star game circles in the preseason who have yet to have publicized invites.

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