Georgia Football: All aboard the Jacob Eason hype train
True freshman quarterback Jacob Eason showed during the Georgia football spring game that he’s the real deal and you should hop on the hype train now.
The 93,000-plus in attendance for the Georgia spring game on Saturday saw the beginning of the Kirby Smart era in Athens, but what had the record crowd buzzing afterward was the performance of quarterback Jacob Eason.
Eason was the No. 1 pro-style quarterback recruit in the nation last year and originally committed to play for Mark Richt. After Richt and Georgia parted ways at the end of the regular season there were a few moments of doubt whether he’s stay committed to the program.
Those fears were soon diminished with Eason enrolling for the winter term so he could participate in spring practice with a chance to earn playing time as a true freshman.
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After completing 19-of-29 passes for 244 yards and a touchdown during Saturday’s spring game, Eason should have answered any questions Smart has about a freshman starting under center.
Smart won’t name Eason the starter with so much time before the season opener and he wants his prized arm to continue working hard for the job. It won’t be handed to him and despite any official declaration, make no mistake, Eason is the starting quarterback for Georgia.
He showcased his arm and the big-play potential he brings to the offense and rediscovered the tight end position with fellow five-star freshman Isaac Nauta emerging as a playmaker. Coupled with Jeb Blazevich and Eason will have two security blankets to rely on when the pocket breaks down and he needs to dump the ball off.
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There will be growing pains with Eason, but Smart and Georgia fans will live with them because he has that “it” factor that could see him in the Heisman conversation in 2017 and as a potential No. 1 pick in 2018. That’s the type of ceiling Eason has. There’s no reason to wait to see that potential.
Eason will be the starting quarterback for Georgia when they open the season September 3 in the Georgia Dome against North Carolina.
The Jacob Eason era is just getting underway.