Every year, there are dozens of highly-touted high school football players who commit to big-name universities in hopes of ultimately making it to the NFL and making a living out of playing one of the most popular sports in America. Each and every one of those three-, four-, or five-star recruits has the raw talent to be successful, but only a few have the work ethic required to become a household name at the collegiate level. Out of those select few, only a handful would be described as players who “get it,” that is, players who have the rare blend of competitiveness, drive, humbleness, and intelligence, to make it all the way. Houston County senior quarterback Jake Fromm is one of those few players who just get it. A short conversation with the highly-touted QB, whether it’s about football or life, reveals why.
He probably wouldn’t admit it, but Fromm rarely runs up against an opponent who has the ability to completely shut him down. That doesn’t mean he won’t ever have an off game, but nights when the senior quarterback doesn’t completely dominate are few and far between. He has consistently posted video-game-like numbers in high school, and the whopping yardage totals probably won’t be slowing down any time soon. In 2014, Fromm completed 63 percent of his passes and posted 3,629 yards and 31 touchdowns to go along with just five interceptions. He then proceeded to prove that his sophomore breakout campaign was no fluke, as he completed 59 percent of his passes as a junior while throwing for 4,099 yards and 36 touchdowns.
“For starters, I grew up in a really competitive family who will compete over almost anything,” Fromm said of how he has worked himself into the position of being a top recruit. “When I arrived at high school, I fell in love with the weight room and play book, which has done wonders for me as far as being the best football player and quarterback I can possibly be.”
Countless stats reveal that Fromm is simply on another level. For example, the Houston QB racked up 466 yards and seven touchdowns in a win versus Veterans this season. The next week, he threw for 394 yards and six scores. The list could continue for paragraph upon paragraph, but Fromm doesn’t bask in the glory of his elite stats.
“Honestly, throwing for a lot of yards is great,” Fromm said. “But it makes me happy when the receivers and offensive lineman get the love they deserve.”
When asked about hopes of potentially having a record-breaking year individually speaking, Fromm again deflected the spotlight.
“My goal for my final season of high school is to win a state championship with my teammates,” Fromm said. “Plain and simple.”
In typical Jake Fromm fashion, the Houston County star committed to head coach Kirby Smart and the University of Georgia before his senior season began, removing any and all drama from the decision process in order to focus on his final high school campaign.
“I grew up a Georgia fan, and coach Smart and I made a great relationship when he recruited me to Alabama,” Fromm said of his commitment. “When he took the head coaching job at UGA, it opened up a huge door for me and enabled me to go to my dream school.”
There has already been endless speculation regarding what will happen at the quarterback position next season for the Dawgs, as Kirby Smart and company already have freshman phenom Jacob Eason leading the team. Eason has shown flashes of poise and incredible arm strength through just a few starts this season, including one of the throws of the year late in the game versus Tennessee that looked to be the game-winning pass. But that doesn’t necessarily mean that Fromm will be forced to take a back seat to Eason once the 2017 season begins.
“He’s obviously a great player,” Fromm said of his future teammate. “But I have the mindset as a competitor that I am going to win no matter what it takes.”
This should be a welcome sign to Georgia fans everywhere, as the quarterback position in Athens should be a strength for years to come, and it doesn’t sound like Fromm has intentions of even thinking about changing his commitment. The current Houston County star downplayed the notion that he would go anywhere other than Georgia despite the fact that a quarterback competition looms. Ole Miss, who also heavily recruited Fromm and who will have an opening at QB once senior Chad Kelly graduates, seemed like a likely landing spot for the Houston QB at a certain point in time, but his commitment remains firm.
“I am 100 percent committed to The University of Georgia,” Fromm said.
Through seven games of his senior year, the Houston quarterback has been impressive in nearly every game he has played. In weeks two through five of the high school season, Fromm threw for 1,829 yards and a whopping 21 touchdowns to lead the Bears to the number one ranking in AAAAAA. Houston ran into the nation’s best defense in Lee County in week seven and ultimately suffered its first loss, but it will be the resiliency that Fromm shows after a setback that will reveal the most about what type of player he truly is.
“You find true greatness in the midst of adversity,” Fromm tweeted after the loss. “(I am) beyond blessed to have the ability to play this amazing game.”
Fromm noted Lee County defensive lineman Aubrey Solomon as one of the best players he has ever competed against, along with Malik Herring from Mary Persons.
While his performance on the field is thoroughly analyzed and well-documented each week, most people don’t know as much about Jake Fromm the person.
“I’ve learned to handle the attention very well,” Fromm said of becoming one of the most highly sought-after quarterback recruits in the country. “But one escape I always have is going hunting and fishing with my friends and family.”
Despite his incredibly bright future at the higher levels of football, Fromm said he’ll miss being in high school.
“I’ll miss playing with the guys I grew up with,” Fromm said of his time at Houston County as it draws to a close. “I would tell other kids to just enjoy every moment of it and always give your best effort.”
In terms of after high school goals, Fromm is setting the bar as high as he possibly can. Anyone who knows the Houston County quarterback, however, knows that the goals are completely achievable.
“I want to graduate with a degree,” Fromm said before finishing the list. “But also win an SEC Championship, a National Championship, hopefully play in the NFL, and then move on to being a productive member of society.”
There’s one order of business that Fromm wants to take care of before moving on to Athens, however: getting Houston County to the Georgia Dome in December.
ITG Web Content
Houston’s Fromm Stakes Claim As One Of Nation’s Elite Passers
Written by Jacob Dennis
Photo by Marque Milla Reese
