Jacob Eason will start this week. Perhaps you have heard about that already.
Eason becomes the first true freshman to start at quarterback for Georgia since Matthew Stafford in 2006.
Most fans know the Washington native can be the next-big-thing in the SEC. The 5-star recruit was rated the nation’s No. 1 pro-style prep quarterback by ESPN and Rivals, but other services ranked him No. 2 behind Ole Miss freshman Shea Patterson.
The 6-foot-5 signal caller threw 43 touchdowns and just six interceptions in 13 games in his final year of high school. He also maintained a 3.8 GPA through high school.
That’s Eason 101. Google can give you that pretty fast. But how about a graduate course on the firefighter’s son prior to the Nicholls State game? We’ll go way beyond the “Shaggy Dog” hairstyle he opts for every season. He likes it. His parents do not. Typical teenager. Except he can sling it 70 yards.
Here are 10 quick-hit things to get you up to speed. Tempo and velocity will be the theme. Quick hits. Out routes. We’ll save the deliberation for those play-action passes he’ll throw to all those tight ends.
10 things to know about Georgia’s No. 10
- Eason was born in November of 1997. Georgia coach Kirby Smart was snatching interceptions as a junior safety that year.
- His prep resume was full of national honors: Gatorade National Football Player of the Year; Maxwell Football Club National Player of the Year; Bobby Dodd National Back of the Year; USA Today All-USA Offensive Player of the Year.
- His hometown of Lake Stevens, Wash., was a resort town built around the 1,000-acre lake, but a census estimate now places the population at 30,000 people. He’s got a long way to be the biggest name from his hometown. Actor Chris Pratt was the hero of the “Guardians of the Galaxy” movie. That superhero flick only did $333 million at the box office.
- His full name is Jacob Henry Eason. If things go well in Athens, I wonder how many kids will pop up with that name in 2021 or so. Bear in mind a lot of boys were named Peyton in Tennessee during the Manning years about 20 years ago in Knoxville.
- His celebrity crush is actress Blake Lively. He’s seen every “Gossip Girl” episode that she was in. He’s also a Star Wars guy. He still thinks “Return of the Jedi” is the best installment of that series.
- Eason really likes country music. His peers are into hip-hop, but he feels a “hype” pregame song would jack him up to overthrow guys by 30 yards. His favorite artists are Luke Bryan, Eric Church and Florida-Georgia Line. He got cowboy boots for Christmas and brought them to UGA.
- He gave his mom a kiss before every high school game. Eason would also say a prayer in memory of his deceased grandfathers during the flag salute. He also wore a cross underneath his pads. Eason was an active member of the Holy Cross Catholic Church community in Lake Stevens.
Eason had a high school ritual where he gave his mother a kiss before every game. (Nate Gettleman/Special)
- Georgia’s strength program already has reshaped Eason. He put on some 20-25 pounds once he arrived in Athens as an early enrollee back in January. It seems his high school “Skinny” nickname no longer applies.
- Tony Eason, his father, did not lead the New England Patriots to the Super Bowl in 1985 and get crushed by the Chicago Bears. His dad gets asked that a lot, but he was a wide receiver for two seasons at Notre Dame. That’s why Eason grew up a Notre Dame fan. That should be a storyline next year when the Bulldogs travel to Notre Dame.
- Eason and fellow freshman offensive lineman Ben Cleveland will forever be linked. The pair committed to Georgia back in July of 2014 and Cleveland actually led the way. Cleveland and 5-star freshman tight end Isaac Nauta room with Eason now.