ATHENS — Jake Fromm doesn’t get surprised by too many things on the football field, but on Wednesday morning the Georgia quarterback was caught off guard by a media blitz.
Fromm was reading to students at Barrow Elementary School in Clarke County when the Allstate AFCA Good Works Team surprised him with a trophy and a brief recognition ceremony.
“This is a huge honor and a huge blessing to receive something like this,” Fromm said. “I want to make other peoples’ lives better and serve.”
Fromm has done his best for the No. 10-ranked Bulldogs on the field, too.
Even when things haven’t gone ideal for him, Fromm has shown the maturity to to keep things in perspective and maintain his role as a team leader.
“For me, it’s knowing who I am and where my identity lies,” Fromm said following a 21-0 win over Kentucky last Saturday. “What I do is I play football, I’m a hunter, I’m a student, that’s what I do. Who I am, I’m a child of God, and I’m a brother and I’m a son of my dad, and that’s kind of who I am.
“I love this game, and I want to give the game all I can and I want to glorify my God doing that.”
Part of Fromm’s identity as Georgia quarterback is community service.
Fromm is one of just 22 student-athletes in the country to be named to the 2019 Allstate AFCA Good Works Team for his leadership in his local community and overall commitment to giving back.
In addition to multiple trips to Barrow Elementary School, Fromm has devoted time to the Extra Special People Organization, assisting individuals with disabilities and their families.
“When I was in middle school, I had an unbelievable connection with the special needs kids in my school,” Fromm said. “They took to me, and I took to them, and I loved every minute of it. For me to do that for ESP here has been awesome.”
Fromm has also provided support for sick children through hospital visits and volunteering at Camp Sunshine, a program for children with cancer.
No doubt, being the starting quarterback at Georgia the past three seasons has put Fromm in a different light than most all other student athletes.
Fromm, a junior from Warner Robins, said he’s grown to become comfortable handling the attention he receives in the community.
“It’ was pretty gradual over time,” Fromm said. “I had to get comfortable in my own skin. Everywhere I went, I was representing someone: myself, my family, and my school.
“I want to represent everyone with the utmost respect, and that’s what I’ll try to do from this day on.”
Fromm is 30-6 as the Bulldogs’ quarterback. Georgia has a bye this week before returning to action at 3:30 p.m. on Nov. 2 against Florida in Jacksonville.
Fromm is 2-0 against the Gators.
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