Despite uncertainty at quarterback, Georgia opens the 2017 SEC Country Power Poll as the class of the SEC East following a straight forward 31-10 win against Appalachian State in the season-opener.
SEC Country’s Power Poll, consisting of 26 voters from across the country, placed Georgia in the No. 4 spot, top among teams from the SEC East.
The Bulldogs will have a chance to increase their standing in the Power Poll this weekend. Georgia plays the Notre Dame Fighting Irish in one of the marquee matchups of the Week 2 slate. Although Appalachian State presented its fair share of challenges, the trip to South Bend will be a greater test of Georgia’s abilities.
Further complicating matters for Georgia is the injury to sophomore quarterback Jacob Eason, who went down with a sprained knee ligament in the first quarter of the Appalachian State game. Eason is expected to return this season, but he won’t be back in time for the contest against Notre Dame.
In Eason’s stead, the reins to the offense go to highly-touted true freshman Jake Fromm. Fromm played exceptionally well in relief of Eason against Appalachian State. The Warner Robins, Ga. native went 10 of 15 and passed for 143 yards and a touchdown. As you expect from a freshman, Fromm had a few issues. He stared down his receivers on too many occasions. That could bite him against the tougher Notre Dame secondary. But on the whole he showed incredible poise for a freshman quarterback seeing his first dose college action.
“Jake is a gamer,” Georgia coach Kirby Smart said, according to Seth Emerson of DawgNation. “He is a kid that grew up around the game. I look at him and compare him to a coach’s son, a football junkie. He likes it. He loves being around it. He’s always cheering and fired up out there. Every time he makes a good throw or a good play in practice he’s jacked and excited for the kid who made the play as he is for himself.”
Your Week 1 Power Poll rankings
| RANK | TEAM | POINTS | 1ST PLACEVOTES | PREV | HIGHVOTE | LOWVOTE |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Alabama (13 - 1) | 338 | 26 | 11 | ||
| 2 | Auburn (10 - 4) | 297 | 0 | 24 | ||
| 3 | LSU (9 - 4) | 292 | 0 | 25 | ||
| 4 | Georgia (13 - 2) | 260 | 0 | 36 | ||
| 5 | South Carolina (9 - 4) | 203 | 0 | 211 | ||
| 6 | Tennessee (4 - 8) | 178 | 0 | 413 | ||
| 7 | Arkansas (4 - 8) | 165 | 0 | 513 | ||
| 8 | Florida (4 - 7) | 158 | 0 | 514 | ||
| 9 | Mississippi State (9 - 4) | 136 | 0 | 613 | ||
| 10 | Kentucky (7 - 6) | 113 | 0 | 614 | ||
| 11 | Texas A&M (7 - 6) | 75 | 0 | 714 | ||
| 12 | Ole Miss (6 - 6) | 60 | 0 | 914 | ||
| 13 | Vanderbilt (5 - 7) | 52 | 0 | 814 | ||
| 14 | Missouri (7 - 6) | 39 | 0 | 914 |
This week's voters:Alex Hickey (SEC Country)Alex Martin Smith (SEC Country)Andrew AstlefordBlake MorganBrandon WalkerChris KirschnerChristopher WalshEric BolinHale McGranahanJeff SentellJoe Mussatto (SEC Country)Jordan McphersonJustin Ferguson (SEC Country)Justin Ferguson (SEC Country)Ken BradleyLauren ShuteMarq Burnett (SEC Country)Mike BambachMike Griffith (SEC Country)Nick SussPete ScantleburyRyan YoungSam SpiegelmanSeth Emerson (Atlanta Journal Constitution)Thomas NeumannTrent Shadid
