ATHENS – Georgia took the practice field for what was billed as the first full-fledged preparation for North Carolina. And for one drill, at least, there seemed to be a definite pecking order at quarterback.

Jacob Eason was the first quarterback to go in during a 7-on-7 drill. He ran several plays, three of them completions – to Jeb Blazevich, Michael Chigbu and Jayson Stanley. (The last pass, to Stanley, was actually a duck that hung in the air, but somehow Stanley stayed with it and caught it over a scout-team cornerback.)

Then Greyson Lambert entered for several pass plays. He completed two passes, including one to Terry Godwin, but was also short on another across the middle.

Then Eason re-entered for another series, at which point the media’s viewing period entered.

During all this Brice Ramsey was on the sideline, making motions like he was signaling in calls.

Both Eason and Lambert were throwing to receivers that figure to be in the rotation. They included Chigbu, Stanley, Godwin, Riley Ridley, Tyler Simmons, Javon Wims and Reggie Davis. 

Head coach Kirby Smart has yet to announce a starter, or whether two of the quarterbacks have taken a lead. Unless that drill was a ruse for the media – which originally was not supposed to see the drill, but was given the time after the shuttle bus was late to the first period – then a pecking order seems to have been established.

At least for Friday’s practice.

Georgia holds a scrimmage on Saturday, its final one of the preseason. Then they have Sunday off, followed by a week of practice prior to the season opener.