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Jacob Eason vs. Jarrett Stidham ranked among best QB matchups of 2017

The Bulldogs now have more depth behind starting QB Jacob Eason.
David Barnes/AJC
Cy Brown
Cy Brown

Welcome to your one-stop shop for Georgia football news and takes every Monday through Friday. Today, we take a look at the much-hyped matchup between Jacob Eason and Jarrett Stidham, a former UGA lineman on the ballot for the College Football Hall of Fame and a new role for get-back coaches. Let’s go.

Jacob Eason, Jarrett Stidham bring different styles into anticipated matchup

Athlon Sports ranked the top 25 quarterback matchups of the upcoming college football season, and the duel between Georgia’s Jacob Eason and Auburn’s Jarrett Stidham on Nov. 11 at Jordan-Hare Stadium rated No. 23, sixth best among SEC QB matchups.

The Deep South’s Oldest Rivalry might be a quarterback showcase in this season’s edition as both sides are hoping for big strides being made behind center after the offensive debacle last year. In beating the Tigers as a freshman, Eason delivered his signature SEC victory but will find things much tougher this time around in trying to outduel the equally talented Stidham.

The Auburn game will be an interesting matchup of styles between the two signal callers. Eason is the prototype of what you want from a pro-style QB, while Stidham has everything you want from a QB running the spread. In his last season at Baylor, Stidham passed for 1,265 yards and 12 TDs to just 2 INTs. He was also 16 of 20 for 267 yards in Auburn’s spring game. Spring games don’t count for much, but it would seem the former 5-star prospect has a full grasp of Gus Malzahn’s offense and will be ready to put up big numbers in that system.

Brice Ramsey returns

Everyone’s favorite backup quarterback/punter, Brice Ramsey, is returning to the Georgia football team for one more year.

“Brice has committed to finishing out his time at the University of Georgia,” his mother, Yolanda Ramsey, told Dawgs247. “After visiting and talking with other schools, he could not get past the part of where his heart was and that is at UGA at the end of the day.”

Ramsey’s decision to return gives Georgia some padding from what could’ve been a potentially disastrous QB situation. Without Ramsey, the only scholarship QBs on the roster were Eason and Jake Fromm. All Georgia fans will hope it doesn’t ever come to a situation where the third-string QB is in the game, but they’ll rest easier knowing it wouldn’t be a walk-on trotting onto the field should worst come to worst.

It also opens up the possibility of giving Fromm a redshirt. I’ve maintained that in an ideal world, Eason would take every snap this season, because anything less would mean burning a year of eligibility for Fromm. Now, Ramsey could step in if Eason goes down in a game, or the coaches want to take him out to avoid any potential injuries in garbage time situations. If Eason is out for a full game or more, I think you have to play Fromm. Outside of that, the coaches should do everything they can to redshirt him.

Matt Stinchcomb on CFB Hall of Fame ballot

Former Bulldog offensive lineman Matt Stinchcomb is in the running to be voted into the College Football Hall of Fame as part of the Class of 2018. Stinchcomb was named an All-American in 1997 and 1998 before being drafted 18th overall by the Oakland Raiders in the 1999 NFL Draft.

Get-back coaches are now stay-back coaches

Beginning in 2017, referees will flag and assess a 15-yard penalty to coaches who come onto the field to argue a call. With this change, strength and conditioning coach Scott Sinclair’s job on game days will be a lot more important.

UGA trophy room gets a facelift

Radi Nabulsi of UGA Sports has some shots of the renovated trophy room at Butts-Mehre. Check it out.

ICYMI

Good dog

Giddyup!

NEXT The financial picture: Where UGA stands vs. other SEC schools
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