NEW ORLEANS — Georgia’s Jake Fromm has been at the center of the storm all season, and the focus will soon shift to the junior quarterback once again.
How will Fromm, the nation’s most experienced quarterback, handle these latest curve balls thrown his way?
The No. 5-ranked Bulldogs (11-2) play No. 7 Baylor (11-2) at 8:45 p.m. on Wednesday in the Sugar Bowl at Mercedes-Benz Superdome.
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The nation will be looking in to gauge Georgia football and judge how well Kirby Smart has recruited and developed talent two years after the Bulldogs’ close call in the national championship game.
It will be up to Fromm to pull together an offense that could be down as many as six starters, if tailback D’Andre Swift isn’t 100 percent and chooses not to play.
Three offensive line starters are out, and three receivers are sidelined, including go-to target Lawrence Cager.
Senior tight end Eli Wolf said on Saturday he expects Fromm will remain as cool as ever.
“He’s been super steady for us all year in an offense where a lot of things have changed, a lot of injuries,” Wolf said after the team’s practice. “Jake has been consistent and confident for us.
“So having a leader like that to control the offense and get everyone — especially the young guys — lined up, is huge, and he’s done a great job with that.”
Fact is, Fromm and the Bulldogs did manage a third straight SEC East Division title and a 4-1 mark against Top 25 teams, even with the uncharacteristically high attrition at receiver.
Against Baylor, Fromm will once again be under pressure.
Sophomore Cade Mays expects the team captain will handle things in stride.
“I don’t think it’s really affected him,” Mays said after Saturday’s practice. “He just comes to work and deals with the cards he’s dealt, and he’s done a great job with that.”
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