Good afternoon, Dawg fans. I hope everyone has managed to stay warm over the last few days while enduring the winter storm. Like many of you, I’ve been cooped up at home on this fine Monday, and before total boredom fully sets in, I figured I should do something productive. So why not hop on the 2016 trend and take a look back at Coach Kirby Smart’s first recruiting class, specifically, the crown jewel of that class: Jacob Eason.
Man, writing this article really takes me back. I can still remember
watching Eason’s highlights when I was in middle school. The hype surrounding him was very real, and the tape absolutely backed it up. When Coach Mark Richt and the Georgia administration mutually agreed to part ways after 15 successful seasons of Georgia football, Eason’s commitment to the Dawgs suddenly felt uncertain. Eason, Coach Richt, and the rest of the UGA offensive staff had built a strong relationship, and it was fair to wonder what might happen next.
There’s no denying that Richt was an outstanding coach during his time in Athens, but the program had struggled to get over the hump and consistently contend for national titles. It was time for a change. Just eleven days after Richt’s departure, Kirby Smart accepted the head coaching position at his alma mater, ushering in a new era of Georgia football.
Smart arrived in Athens fresh off his fourth national championship as defensive coordinator at the University of Alabama, determined to bring that championship culture with him. While instilling a winning mindset is crucial, talent, especially at the quarterback position, is what truly jumpstarts a program. For Smart, that process began with recruiting and, more importantly, keeping Jacob Eason committed to Georgia.
Despite all the coaching turnover, Eason’s commitment to the Dawgs never wavered. He went on to sign with Georgia and headline Coach Smart’s first recruiting class. A native of Lake Stevens, Washington, Eason stood 6’5” and weighed 205 pounds, possessing all the physical tools needed to eventually become a franchise NFL quarterback. A five-star recruit, Eason was ranked as the No. 4 overall player in the 2016 class and the No. 1 pro-style quarterback. He was widely viewed as the next Matthew Stafford, boasting elite size, impressive accuracy, and an absolute cannon for an arm.
During his high school career, Eason threw for 9,813 yards, 102 touchdowns, and just 18 interceptions. His senior season was especially dominant, as he passed for 3,585 yards and 43 touchdowns, earning National Gatorade Player of the Year honors.
Once Eason arrived on campus, he immediately pushed for the starting quarterback job, competing with Greyson Lambert. Although Eason had a strong spring, Lambert was ultimately named the starter as the Dawgs opened the 2016 season against the North Carolina Tar Heels. Midway through that game, Lambert played solid football, but Georgia needed a spark on offense. Enter Eason.
Eason completed 8 of 12 pass attempts for 133 yards and one touchdown, while leaning on the Dawgs’ run game, led by Nick Chubb, to secure a 33–24 victory and begin the Kirby Smart era with a win. Eason would go on to start the remainder of the season, finishing with 2,430 passing yards, 16 touchdowns, and eight interceptions.
Heading into the 2017 season, expectations were sky-high. Many believed Eason was poised to become one of the premier quarterbacks in college football. Unfortunately, fate had other plans. In the season opener against Appalachian State, Eason suffered a knee injury. Backup quarterback Jake Fromm stepped in and never looked back, leading the Dawgs to victory and eventually guiding them on a run all the way to the National Championship game.
Eason’s time in Athens effectively came to an end, and following the season, he elected to transfer to the University of Washington. Due to the NCAA sit-out rule, Eason waited until 2019 to take the field for the Huskies. In his lone season at Washington, he threw for 3,132 yards, 23 touchdowns, and eight interceptions. After the season, Eason decided to forgo his senior year and declare for the 2020 NFL Draft.
He was selected in the fourth round by the Indianapolis Colts and spent time with the Colts and Carolina Panthers, appearing in two regular-season games and completing 5 of 10 pass attempts for 84 yards with two interceptions. Eason also had brief practice-squad stints with the Seahawks, 49ers, Giants, and Green Bay Packers. Now 28 years old, Eason is currently a free agent, and unless another opportunity arises, his playing days are likely over.
Regardless, he’ll always be a DGD in my book and will forever be remembered as the face of Kirby Smart’s first recruiting class, the class that helped turn Georgia from a good program into an elite one.
I hope you all enjoyed this article and that it helped cure some of your boredom today. I know it certainly cured mine. As always, GO DAWGS!!!
