Kirk Herbstreit lays out why Justin Fields didn't start over Jake Fromm

Kirk Herbstreit is putting a stop to the revisionist history surrounding Justin Fields’ time as a Georgia Bulldog. In an appearance on The Colin Cowherd Podcast, Herbstreit laid out why Fields didn’t start over Jake Fromm in 2018.

“Georgia played Alabama in the national championship with a freshman quarterback,” stated Herbstreit. “Early in the year, they were winning despite him. They were winning and he was just trying to manage the game.

“They lost at Auburn late in the year at Jordan-Hare. Then, they rematched with them in the SEC Championship like a week later, and he started to make plays. He started to grow up. And they started to win because of him.”

In the 2017 SEC Championship Game that Herbstreit mentions, Fromm led the Bulldogs to a 28-7 victory. He had one of his best games yet, completing 16 of 22 passes for 183 yards and two touchdowns.

Afterwards, Herbstreit runs through Fromm’s performances in the College Football Playoff. 

“I called the Rose Bowl that same year when they ended up meeting up with Baker Mayfield, and they were getting blown out,” said Herbstreit. “If you go back and really study it, Jake Fromm started to make some plays. They had to throw.

“So again, another game they won because of him. Then, they go and play Nick Saban and Alabama. They got the game in the bag, and Tua [Tagovailoa] became Tua right before our eyes on a national stage.”

“I think it put Kirby Smart in a really tough spot.”

Continuing, Kirk Herbstreit harkens back to the promise the Bulldogs possessed following their loss to Alabama in the national championship. 

“The next year, that quarterback [Fromm] became the leader of not the offense – he became the leader of the team,” said Herbstreit. “So you bring in this new prospect in Justin Fields . . . who could’ve gone anywhere.

“I think it put Kirby Smart in a really tough spot. To say, hey I got this new five-star recruit, but my god – the work we put in with Jake Fromm last year. To go from where he was just kind of managing the game, to winning with him. 

“We’ve had an entire offseason with him leading the drills. Guys are breaking down huddles with him in the huddle. Now I’m gonna replace him with a potential quarterback?”

Evidently, Herbstreit doesn’t envy that Smart had to make that decision. Still, he believes the Georgia head coach made the correct choice.

“Who does the team believe in?”

Finally, Kirk Herbstreit capped off his defense by saying there’s more to the decision than just picking the most talented player.

“It’s not just about who’s the best prospect, or who has the most upside. Sometimes it’s about who does the team believe in, who’s out leader,” stated Herbstreit. “Make no mistake, Jake Fromm was the leader.

“If we’re going to do a talent competition, Justin Fields is a freak of nature. There’s no competition there. But if you’re talking about playing football – executing, experience and knowledge . . . to me, it’s a no brainer the other way.

“There’s no way Kirby Smart could’ve sat Jake Fromm for a more talented, unproven rookie quarterback at that stage.”

Following Smart’s decision, Fromm played well, yet his team never reached the heights he did his freshman year.

On the other hand, Fields went on to have a fantastic career at Ohio State, coming one game short of winning a national championship.