With Georgia quarterback Jake Fromm announcing his decision Wednesday to enter the NFL draft, the next big question is who will succeed Fromm as the Bulldogs' starting quarterback.
The three primary in-house candidates are short on experience, having played in five games and thrown 27 passes (all of that accumulated by one player). This could lead coach Kirby Smart to pursue a graduate transfer.
» MARK BRADLEY: Why would Jake Fromm choose to leave?
Here’s a look at the three in-house candidates and four potential graduate transfers:
>> In-house candidates
Stetson Bennett
This season, Bennett (listed at 5-foot-11, 190 pounds) played in five games, completing 20 of 27 pass attempts (74.1 percent) for 260 yards, with two touchdowns and one interception. Bennett was a walk-on scout-team quarterback at Georgia in the 2017 season, but did not play in a game, and after the season, he transferred to Jones County Junior College in Mississippi. After one season there, Georgia offered him a scholarship to return, and he signed in December 2018. Bennett will be a junior next season.
» MORE: NFL scouts project Fromm as second-round pick
D'Wan Mathis
Mathis enrolled early in January 2019, but emergency brain surgery in May led to a redshirt season. Ranked No. 11 among pro-style quarterback recruits by 247Sports Composite in last year's class, No. 311 overall, Mathis has not been cleared for contact, but he has been participating in drills and will continue in that role through spring practice. The expectations are that he will be cleared for full participation by the start of the season. He will be a redshirt freshman in 2020.
Carson Beck
Beck signed last month and has enrolled for spring semester. He's a 6-foot-6, 225-pound pro-style quarterback ranked No. 8 in that category by the 247Sports Composite, No. 204 among all recruits.
>> Potential graduate transfers (each has one season of eligibility remaining)
Jamie Newman, Wake Forest
>> Update: UGA lands Jamie Newman
Newman is listed at 6-foot-4, 230 pounds and is from Graham, N.C. A seldom-used backup in his first two seasons, Newman emerged this season as a key player and led Wake Forest to an 8-5 record, including a 27-21 bowl loss to Michigan State. Newman played in 12 games and was 220-of-361 passing (60.9 percent) for 2,868 yards, with 26 touchdowns and 11 interceptions. He had a passer-efficiency rating of 145.35. (Fromm had a rating of 141.15.) Newman also rushed for 574 yards on 180 carries and six touchdowns, with long runs of 42 and 50 yards.
K.J. Costello, Stanford
Costello is listed at 6-5, 222 pounds and is from Coto de Caza, Calif. Costello played in five games this season for the Cardinal. He was 102-of-167 passing (61.1 percent) for 1,038 yards, with six touchdowns and three interceptions. In 29 career games, Costello has completed 495 of 791 passes (62.6 percent) for 6,151 yards, with 49 touchdowns and 18 interceptions. He struggled with injuries this season, missing time after he was knocked out of two games on hard hits. He also missed time because of a hand injury.
D'Eriq King, Houston
King is listed at 5-11, 195 pounds and is from Manvel, Texas. This season, King played in the Cougars' first four games, then announced he would not play again to preserve his final season of eligibility before he would transfer. He last played Sept. 19. In four games, King was 58-of-110 passing (52.7 percent) for 663 yards, with six touchdowns and two interceptions. Overall, King has played in 35 games, completing 369 passes in 597 attempts (61.8 percent) for 4,925 yards, with 50 touchdowns and 10 interceptions. He also has rushed for 1,421 yards on 253 carries (5.6 yards per carry) and 28 touchdowns.
Anthony Brown, Boston College
Brown is listed at 6-2, 220 pounds and is from Cliffwood, N.J. This season, Brown played in six games before surgery on his left knee brought his season to an end. Brown was 81-of-137 passing (59.1 percent) for 1,250 yards, with nine touchdowns and two interceptions. In 28 career games, Brown is 373-for-680 (54.9 percent) for 4,738 yards, with 40 touchdowns and 20 interceptions. According to reports, Brown entered the transfer portal after Boston College fired coach Steve Addazio.
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