While Carson Beck is cultivating his own South Beach dumpster fire via social media, let’s turn our attention back home to Athens. The oft-hyped spring talk is around the impending QBR comparisons that will come from G-Day (if we have one…Kirby said he’s not 100%) between Gunner and Pug. Montgomery is recovering from a high school injury.
But, all the talk is about Jared Curtis, who is down between Oregon and the Dawgs. Some are predicting Georgia will go all in on Curtis to bolster the 2026 recruiting class.
I remain skeptical. First, Justin Fields. Kirby had a #1 QB recruit at one time, and we all know that didn’t work out as planned. It was hard to argue with the logic given that Fromm had taken the Dawgs within a hair of winning a national championship (Tyler Simmons was, in fact, onsides), but it was also very clear Fields had athletic talents above Fromm’s…there again, Fromm was also a five star. Believe it or not, Kirby secured three five star quarterbacks in a row, between Eason, Fromm, then Fields.
After that, safe to say, we haven’t seen that level of a QB recruit since, chiefly because of COVID disruptions, the Jamie Newman debacle, JT Daniels transferring in, and so on. It maybe appeared to top gunslingers that Georgia wanted to just Manball it and have a game manager instead of a featured QB.
Second, there’s the loyalty factor, as some would say. Based on Fromm and Beck, when the QB1 struggled or didn’t look the part, Smart comes under fire for dancing with the date that brought you, so to speak. While this was more evident with Fromm-Fields, I can’t say the same for Beck. Give it to Carson, he waited his turn and likely had a higher upside physically to Bennett, but Bennett had the team and the swagger and the moxie you want in a QB. I’d also point to 2020, where the QB competition was a revolving door at times that the loyalty part isn’t 100% a thing. But it does look it. If this is true, then there’s no competition in Athens and Stockton is QB1 for 2025.
Third, Arch Manning. I only point out Arch as I feel he’s a unicorn in the NIL world. He’s waited, he’s highly touted, and likely has physical upside over Ewers but he’s waited his turn. He’s not every #1 QB recruit out there, as I don’t see many top recruits wanting to come in and ride the pine after they’ve been told they’re the “future of a program” since they were getting their first pimples in middle school. Not every QB recruit has two uncles and a grand dad that are former NFL Pro Bowlers to help navigate the path to a pro career.
Last, I just don’t see Kirby dropping that big of a dime on a QB. As evidenced by 2024, the surrounding cast has greater impact over the QB success than the QB himself.
UTGAFan has a point. Carson Beck posted some great numbers in 2023, but arguably didn’t have the same caliber of defenses on the other side of the ball to bail an offense out when struggling. Not to beat a dead horse, but the 2023 SECCG was evidence of that, alongside the frequency of first scores by opponents in the same season. Although he still had a great line and great skill players, there were holes on the defensive side that smart needed to remedy. Clearly there was a commitment in the 2025 class to invest in defensive linemen, and Smart seems to be getting the front seven shored up again.
I don’t know how much a top QB would impact the Bulldog program. Given Smart’s ten years, his most success came from a freshman quarterback and a walk on at the position. One was a five star recruit, the other was not, and one of those guys won two championship rings. For Bennett, it clearly took a bit of an emotional toll on him with the criticism he received as people called for Beck to play over him at times. He seemed to have the ego to handle it…compare that to the ego of a freshman hype machine, or maybe even Carson Beck. Which would you want in your signal caller in Athens?
Smart wants elite, not ego. I just don’t see the recruiting battle over a #1 QB recruit being the biggest priority on Kirby’s recruiting board, especially when the head coach has defensive DNA and has seen his elite defenses drop off in the past two years.
JP, you make the comment about Fromm and Fields with Kirby’s loyalty. When are you saying in 2018 (Fromm’s best season) did Kirby’s loyalty to his established starter win out over Fields? Baton Rouge? You’re going to send a true freshman into a game in Death Valley to bring a team back in a game where the offense was poor and the defense was getting shredded? The 2 weeks between LSU and Florida? Jake played a great game in Jacksonville that day.
Fields decided to take his ball and go to Columbus rather than competing for the job in the spring 2019 because I’m convinced he knew Jake was going to stay for his 4th season in 2020 and he wanted a chance to start. Kirby let the team chemistry go to hell in New Orleans in an effort to keep Fields knowing he had put his name in the portal.
On Curtis, the word has been consistently Mom wants him in Athens (closer to home). The reason he decommitted the first time was that he wanted to take his visits and he didn’t think it was fair to Georgia to take visits as a commitment. I’m not saying he’s going to come to Georgia (I don’t think a high school QB is worth these numbers). If this comes down to NIL, he ain’t coming because an old guy who is desperate for his alma mater to win a national championship before he dies will write the check for what it will take.
Sorry, to clarify, that was the narrative around Fields and Fromm, not my opinion. I didn’t really care for Fields at all, thought he had a public chip on his shoulder like he didn’t give a fuck about what Fromm accomplished or the program, he just wasn’t getting the limelight he wanted. Thought him a bit of a prima Donna myself and thought Chicago was just what he deserved. You want to be mister everything, in Chicago, you can do that.
Just saying if the optics out there are “Kirby’s loyal” then the future prime donnas of the world are going to avoid Georgia, taking a note from Fields. Sorry, it’s Saturday and I’m posting in between making breakfast and getting ready for the apparent Tornadogeddon heading our way.
No problem. Excellent clarification.
I’m going to trust Kirby on who he wants to recruit. He’s been through the wringer with his #1 High School QB recruits and expect he’s learned a little along the way. If Curtis feels like he’s worth it, I’m sure he’s gonna do everything he can to make it happen and the reason being is that he’s more of a team guy than most
Fromm came in with Eason firmly in control of QB1, but I recall there was a lot of talk about Fromm and his leadership skills and how be took control of the huddle. Something that was never said about Fields. So the intangible aspect of playing quarterback in Fromm was far greater than the potential and athleticism from Fields. Plus Fields never showed he could read defenses and throw between the hash marks. All that to say playing QB is also how you manage the guys in the huddle, both Fromm and Bennett appeared to have that quality. The star ratings are only the measurablies, and not the leadership aspect, so what happens at practice when no one is watching matters a hell of a lot. I trust Coach Smart and Bobo to know what they are looking for. The 2025 starting QB will probably have a very good head start and a multiple year run (barring injury) an d also impacting the depth chart and future recruits decision.
Not all QBs are about the money, and most want to play in the league. Lanning has done very well with QBs thus far but Kirby has a longer history of QBs (that didn’t retire from injuries) being drafted. Oregon is also a long way away. Curtis loves Bobo, but the loss of Gummy Vangorder is a potential issue. Kind of a toss-up, so maybe the money will make the difference this time? I know there are also two 4-star QBs who look really good that UGA is looking at if Curtis goes to the Ducks, and they’d be cheaper. And, they aren’t that far from Curtis’ talent. The kid is good but he’s not a generational talent. Therefore, I think the Dawgs will be ok at QB either way.
Understanding what/who CKS is goes a long way towards his crootin’ of talent, “Iron sharpens iron”, UGA football student athletes just don’t walk in the door and take over, practice reps get you playing time at UGA football, accepting “The Process” is a huge if not major hurdle, staff members can read the room, SBIV had/won the room, Jake Fromm Statefarm had the room, #14 may have the room after his effort, plus that wack or whutever it was that got laid on him during the seccg, considering the transfer-port-o-let, peeps leaving for next level $$$$$ (before they should), the hype machine says one thing, generational players take years to create, says another…GO DAWGS!!
I do think that elite QB play is essential when you get to the biggest games. If you re-watch the last 2 national championship runs, Bennett was elite in the playoffs both years. He did have that “Alabama jinx” fumble in the 1st Natty game, but he shrugged it off and took back the lead on the very next possession. That’s elite QB play in my book. I think that Kirby just wants the best players that want to be UGA Bulldogs. If you prefer money or have an attitude problem, don’t come to UGA or, if you’re already here and can’t be a good teammate, there’s the door.
Kirby will never go all in on an ego recruit. He wants blood and guts kind of players who want to play for the love of the game. Something that’s hard to find nowadays.
Always thought the sugar bowl of 1/1/2025 should have been rescheduled….
Given the status of UGA football Head Coach, dealing with the loss of his number one friend and golfing buddy, Kirby Smart and family will have a tough road every day moving forward…GO DAWGS!!
I’ve learned it doesn’t matter how the sausage is made. It’s only the results that matter. GATA
I think the QB decision on starter and recruiting is much more in Bobo’s hands. He’s the developer. He has an offensive philosophy and knows his playing pieces. He’ll want a QB who best fits his offense rather than be handed a QB he’s going to have to change his playbook for. I don’t know what type of QB this Curtis kid is but we’re not starting a freshman anyway. My sense is Pug has the inside track if he can command the huddle, see the field and make the quick reads. Gunner is more of an old school option QB. If CMB decides he wants to go that direction with the offense then Stockton’s the man, but given our WR, TE and pro-style look I’d be surprised.
Pardon the argument, but to put it shortly I gotta disagree with the conclusion that Kirby wouldn’t pay that much for Jared Curtis. I believe that if he says he’ll come to Georgia for 2.7 million he’ll get it. Reason: the prevailing prices are going up.
Pay him 2.7 mil & he flames out, then what? I’m not a believer in paying millions to a high school kid that may or may not be capable of playing at this level. This is the idiocy of NIL and probably the eventual downfall of our great sport. No one knows if he’s even better than average yet. Going into 2021 who predicted Stetson would have MVP honors in two straight title games? No one because you never know what is inside a guy when it matters until you see him face adversity. Pay the players after they show you something. No way I’m investing that money into an unknown and if he goes elsewhere, fine. It can’t be good for team chemistry for the highest paid player to have never played a down. Now you can get off my lawn!
I put about as much faith in the recruiting services getting QB1 correct as I do the number 1 draft pick in the NFL making the HOF. However, I do want to see the staff get the QB they want.
If I were building a roster where it is one of those build a team for $xx.xx and you get to pick them with tiered pricing as you see on social media, I am likely not spendiing top dollar on QB. I like that UGA went after WRs. Jerry Rice certainly helped make 2 HOF QBs look good and UGA WRs made Beck look worse. My area of concern for next year is the defensive front 7. I like those DE, OLB hybrids which can take on all everything tackles and cover a RB as well as DT that demand a double team. The front 7 wasn’t up to UGA standards last season. Lane invested in the front 7 at Ole Miss last year and it resulted in a long day for Smart. If you had told me in August of last year the D front 7 would be a deciding factor in the game, I would have thought UGA would be on the winning end of that statement.
I don’t understand why UGA signed Fields. He didn’t really fit in the system UGA ran. He is a good but not elite RPO / dual threat. Further, he wasn’t as good as advertised but not a total bust. He did well at Ohio State but they have had QBs which thrived more than him in a system that more fits his skills.
The bottom line is that Fromm accomplished as much or more at the college level as Fields.
We’re calling him “Pug” now?