Jake Bentley talks facing UGA’s Jake Fromm in Week 2 after bonding at Manning Passing Academy
By Andrew Olson
Published:
College quarterbacks are eager to help out at the Manning Passing Academy not only for the opportunity to learn from one of football’s most iconic families, the Mannings, but also to talk shop and bond with their peers, fellow college football signal-callers.
South Carolina QB Jake Bentley considers two of his fellow SEC quarterbacks, Georgia’s Jake Fromm and Auburn’s Jarrett Stidham, friends. He told Paul Finebaum that the three bonded at the Manning Passing Academy.
“Me and Jarrett Stidham and Jake Fromm, we really hung out all four days we were down there,” Bentley said. “We’re all so close because you go through the same issues and same experiences throughout your college careers so there is a lot of stuff we can relate to.”
Bentley recognizes that he and Fromm won’t be quite as friendly when Week 2 of the season rolls around with the Bulldogs coming to Columbia to take on the Gamecocks.
“We kind of say what’s up to each other before the game and maybe speak to each other after the game, but really during the game (and week) there is not much talking,” Bentley said. “I’m sure he’s not rooting for me and I’m not trying to root for him. We want to go out there and win the game just like any other quarterback around the country wants to. There is a mutual respect for each other, but when it’s in between the lines all bets are off and it’s time to play ball.”
Bentley and Fromm, along with Alabama’s Tua Tagovailoa and others, are part of an increasing number of young quarterbacks able to step in and thrive as true freshmen. He told Finebaum that he credits high school coaches.
“I think it’s a testament to high school coaches around the country,” he said. “I know my coach, Coach Blackmon at Opelika, was a great football coach that really taught me a lot and prepared me for college.”
Interestingly enough, Blackmon is now on staff at Auburn. The full segment from “The Paul Finebaum Show” with Bentley can be seen here.
Andrew writes about sports to fund his love of live music and collection of concert posters. He strongly endorses the Hall of Fame campaigns of Fred Taylor and Andruw Jones.
