SI.com does the big splash story on Jacob Eason. The quote that caught my eye:
Durant, who has tutored a handful of talented prospects, including Max Browne, the No. 1 quarterback in the 2013 class, says there is no comparing Eason to any other passer—including, yes, Stafford. Eason, Durant says, is “too unique.”
Well, we may not be able to compare their passing skills, but we sure can compare their recruiting hype. I’m just curious – between Stafford and Eason, the two highest profile commitments of Mark Richt’s tenure, who do you think has gotten the most recruiting attention both from the media and the fan base?
Right now, I’d say Stafford, but Eason’s coming on strong. And he’s still got plenty of time to erase the gap. Not that he’s gone out of his way to draw it. It’s just the nature of the times we live in. And how weird is that to say when you’re talking about the difference between 2005 and 2015?
Get The Picture 
I sure hope he lives up to the billing. With the way recruiting has been going in general, he should have a pretty good team around him. I especially like the uptick in offensive line recruiting. A good offensive line makes any qb and rb look very good. If the qb is already good, the line can make him a game changer.
I hope he’s able to have a redshirt year. Not so much that he won’t have the talent to play right away, but that we won’t be in a position to need to rely on a true freshman qb in ’16 and Eason will get a year to learn the system.
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Agree with you on the redshirt year. Even Stafford would have benefited from that.
The good thing is that whoever wins the starting job this season should be better than JTIII. Richt didn’t have a lot of decent options in 2006.
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I’d also like to have the same qb for more than one season. I’m partial to Bauta because of the run option he brings. I’d be happy if he could start for two years and then hand it over to a super star qb for the next four.
I liked Stafford’s throwing ability, but I always felt like he had somewhat of a “mercenary” attitude at Georgia. He never really seemed to love Georgia or being a Dawg, it seemed like playing for us was a means to an end for him and as soon as he could go, he left. It worked out great for him, so I guess he got what he wanted. I guess being from Texas, he didn’t have a lot of connection to Georgia. Murray, on the other hand, really seems to love Georgia and loved his time as a Dawg.
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After Stafford left Georgia, he has continued to sport the G whenever he can. I saw him at Augusta in 2010 and he had a Georgia cap on. He still comes back to campus a lot when the Lions have an off week. I think both of his parents went to Georgia and his sister went to UGA after him. He and his wife got their engagement pictures taken on the field at Sanford. He’s a DGD in my book.
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Saw the newlywed Staffords on a “double date” with Matt Ryan and his wife in Atlanta recently. He wasn’t rocking the G but he was more than willing to take a few photos with eager Dawg fans. DGD.
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I guess I might be wrong then. He never did anything negative toward Georgia or anything like that, I just sort of got the feeling that he was there sort of with an “employee” type mindset. He did his job and did a good job, enjoyed himself, and moved on as soon as he could. A friend’s son was a student there when Stafford was there. He said Stafford went out downtown, a lot, and let it be known fairly early he was leaving as soon as he could. He told lots of people after his sophomore season that he was gone after the next Fall. Knowshon was the same way in that respect.
I’m glad to hear he’s still connected and feels a connection. The engagement picture at Sanford is a pretty strong statement.
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He was the #1 overall pick in the draft after his Junior season. I don’t know there is a player on this planet dumb enough to spend another year in college and risk losing that kind of money
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Especially when that was about the last year under the old draft rules, when rookie money wasn’t capped.
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Does Matt Leinert ring any bells?
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Didn’t say I blamed him for leaving, I’d have done the same.
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No one expected him to stay, but I think people like to think it should be a hard decision for him. DGD. Dawg for life.
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The employee mindset doesn’t surprise me. He was getting ready for the League. I’m sure Richt told him after 2008, “You’re ready.”
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Redshirt year? If he is anywhere close to as good as advertised he will be gone after three years in Athens. And you guys want to sit him for one of those three?
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If he’s not ready to start from day one? Yep.
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I wouldn’t think Richt would be real big on Knowshoning anyone else.
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It’s a different position. As far as I know, Stafford is the only true freshman Richt’s ever started at QB, and that was only because of who was ahead of him.
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He might come in early? MiD season he might be ready. Zeier did ok.
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Play the best kid. They got burned trying to stockpile Moreno. I am wary of the hype–but if Eason plays so well you can’t keep him off the field, why not play him? I think you have to assume 3 years with a lot of kids (especially a 6-5 qb). Year 4 is just gravy.
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Yep. Red-shirting a guy who is that good is like throwing away a year. Play him immediately if he has a grasp of the playbook. He’ll make mistakes but he’d make mistakes as a red-shirt freshman, too.
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What if he’s ready by Week #4? If he’s as good as advertised, but not until Year #2, there is still a very good chance he’s gone after Year 3.
Obviously, the coaches have got to see him play to decide, but redshirting only makes sense if you plan on staying a FIFTH year.
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I agree. He’ll take lumps as a new starter whether its as a true freshman or a redshirt freshman. I’d rather have those lumps be as a freshman with 2 years more to improve his play.
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Not if Georgia’s in the hunt for a conference title.
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Totally agree. If they are in the hunt, play the guy who gives the best chance to win. Don’t give away a season just to get him “ready” to play unless he is the very best option.
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He’ll have a solid O-line and be able to hand it to #27 & #1 plus throw it to #83 and a few good receivers. So, teams will have to stop the run and pass. Teams won’t be able to make us one-dimensional. He needs to be on the field if he can somewhat grasp the playbook. Don’t waste a year. Does he have a big enough arm to stretch the field? Yes! Will teams have to defend the entire field? yes! Does that open up lanes to run the ball? Yes! Play him immediately! I want to see him start for 3 years not two. He’ll be fine with our talented offensive players.
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Agree. Redshirting Eason would be just plain dumb. Is handing the ball to Chubb so difficult to master?
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Remember he’s an EE this coming spring. That helps too.
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disagree on the redshirt, he’s gone after 3 anyway. Let’s use him while we have him. Concur on Stafford getting more press. Haven’t seen Kipper Jr. mention Eason as the #1 NFL pick….yet
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JC, I completely agree with you about the redshirt year. It would have done wonders with Stafford because the game would have slowed down for him off the bat. The light finally came on at Auburn when he and Tra Battle destroyed the Tigers in a game no one thought we could win. Hopefully, one of the 3 guys can take the job and do more than keep the seat warm in 2015 and ’16.
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Stafford didn’t have the O-line, RB’s, or receivers that Eason will have. He had to get beat up learning. Eason will have arguably the best RB in the country to hand it to. that will keep defenses honest. It can’t be that hard to hand it off to #27 and then run a little play-action pass.
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Not a knock on Stafford, but Eason seems far more…engaged. He’s everywhere as an ambassador, and he’s managing his presence with the program while still 3,000 miles away from Athens. There’s an it factor that Satfford may not have carried around with him.
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Stafford was definitely a quieter type of leader. He had the respect of his teammates and the trust of his coaches. He’s been sort of the same kind of guy in Detroit. I think it’s probably a personality thing.
Stafford’s “it” factor is his ability to throw the deep out like nobody in the game can now. The man has a golden arm. I watched the Blackout game again during the SECN Georgia takeover. His ability to put the ball in a place where only his guy could get it was uncanny.
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His 33 INTs over 3 years would suggest he put the ball in a place where the other guy could get it plenty of times too ;). Not knocking the talent, he just leaned on that arm a little too heavily often.
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His drive in the final 9 minutes trailing
the Tech was inspiring. He and MoMass were in a grove and Ware was wearing out the nerd lbs.
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I thought the same thing, Brandon. He had some Favre to him. You just shook your head, Stafford being Stafford when it happened.
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everything everybody said, but one thing; Stafford was a tad on the arrogant side. Eason has some swagger where I saw arrogance in Stafford. Oh, he was good, make no doubt, and I liked his abilities and would take another one just like him in a New York minute. It isn’t a knock on Matt at all, but all in all, I just believe Eason will be a better all around Dawg. Just one hill billy bull dawgs opinion and in no way reflects the views of this station.
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I’m gonna disagree with you here.
Matt took a helluva beating his freshman year. (Remember the picture of his face after the Kentucky game?) I never heard him complain or call out his teammates.
My only criticism of him was that sometimes he tried to do too much and it cost the team when he forced things. But I never heard his teammates complain about him, either.
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That golden arm produced some big plays going both ways, but the guy is all Dawg.
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My only question is whether he would have been as good as he was in 2007 without 2006. He certainly wasn’t ready to go…I remember being at Ole Miss in 2006 and thinking that second half he had, while not great by any measure, was just gritty enough for him to really learn some things about winning.
(BTW…how I had scrubbed that UGA was #10 at the time and that the debacle vs. U10…or really the day we all realized Two Thumbs might be in over his head…was the following week. I was on the 40 that night…I don’t think I’ve ever felt the same way I did that night from the pregame parachute display to going up 24-7 to walking out of the north end of the stadium getting pelted by Tennessee students with chants and assorted non-verbal items….need some time on the couch still for that one)
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I was at that game too. Possibly my worst UGA football memory ever.
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I doubt he redshirts, unless our Coaches only want two years out of him. Helmet Head pegged Stafford as the #1 pick coming into UGA.
Here’s to Eason being as good, combine that with a little D, and things are looking up. Stafford was never the issue, IMHO…
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Not starting game 1 shouldn’t equal redshirt. The chances of this kid not being ready to play at some point in 2016 is low. If it works out that he isn’t needed that’s fine, but planning for a redshirt season doesn’t make much sense to me.
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If Stafford couldn’t beat out JTIII for the starting job to open 2006, it’s hard to see how Eason improves upon that, as I don’t think the talent gap next season will be nearly as yawning.
Here’s to hoping Eason starting in 2016 is a luxury as opposed to a necessity.
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I think it’s setting up an interesting dynamic among Dawg fans…I tend to think there are some that want Bauta or Lambert to win the job this year because they think Eason will be more likely to start over them next year than if Ramsey grabs hold of the job.
I think it’s worth mentioning…Stafford, Peyton, Eli….none of those guys started Game 1.
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One of my favorite sports trivia tidbits…Who did Peyton Manning replace at QB his freshman year?
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Todd Helton?
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That’s the one.
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Or Eric Zeier, either, for that matter.
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I agree. No need to force things either way. If he’s the best we’ve got, play him. If somebody else is manning the position well no need to change horses because Jacob’s a no. 1 pick upon initial eligibility. I don’t see any reason to name him the day 1 starter or to put a redshirt on him. Wouldn’t we all love to finish 2015 saying: no way Jacob plays in 2016?
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I think one major difference will be that Eason is an early graduate and will be enrolled for spring semester. He will have the off season and spring practice to prepare. I can’t remember if Stafford had that advantage. If he did I can’t imagine him not being ready for the season opener.
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He was not breaking bad
“Stafford graduated early from high school and enrolled at the University of Georgia in January, where he became the first true freshman quarterback to start for the Georgia Bulldogs football team since Quincy Carter in 1998, and first out of high school to start since Eric Zeier in 1991.”
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Matthew_Stafford
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The anticipated arrival of Eason coupled with improved OL recruiting, an established running game, improved D and an exciting new staff brings a really good feeling for the next few years. A championship is looming.
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Eason is possibly a lot more polished than Stafford coming out. Like most recruits these days, the summer 7 on 7’s and more intricate high school offenses has them more ready to contribute day 1.
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Comparing Nick Chubb to Herschel Walker after the season Nick had is one thing but comparing Eason to Stafford before he even has his senior season in high school is premature. Both committed early to Georgia so the recruiting is just a fraction of what it could have been for either of the qb’s. Can anyone imagine the recruiting pressure in 2015 compared to what it was back in 2005. The best thing for Georgia is one of the qb’s this year takes Georgia to the top and Eason has a redshirt year. Who knows? He may pull a Tebow and come back for his senior year.
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Tebow came back for his senior year because his skill set did not translate to the pro game and scouts knew this. Thats why he’s yuckin it up with Pawwwwl on Saturday mornings now instead of playing on Sundays
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Doubt it lasts but Tebow is currently on the Eagles roster.
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You can down Tebow after the fact but he was a first round draft choice. He helped win a game in the NFL playoffs. Not a lot of SEC qb’s have even come close to that. My point which you missed is the fact Tebow came back for his senior year and Eason possibly could also. Heck Eason may transfer out after Ramsey leads Georgia to two straight National Championships. No one knows at this time which is why college football is so unpredictable.
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I’ll believe all this about Eason when he shows up on the first day of class. I’ve got only 2 more words to say: Laremy Tunsil.
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Exactly! If Heaven forbid Georgia was to go 8-5 like in 2013 who knows how many recruits might change their minds.
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Heaven would have to forgive 8-5 because with ULM, Vandy, Southern, Kentucky and Ga Southern we’ve got 5 wins already
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Let’s see. We lost to South Carolina just last year. Alabama at home? Gotta favor Bama. The Vols away? We got two gifts last year at our place to beat them. Mizzou after Bama and Vols? Trap game. Loss to Mizzou at home? Been there done that. Florida? Refer to 2014 game. Auburn? Always a wild game there. Yech Tech? Refer to 2014 also. Looking at our schedule as a pessimist you could see 7 losses. Good thing I am an optimist. 3 SEC losses possible. Only 2 SEC losses and we probably play for the SEC championship.
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Nope. 2 SEC losses and we all watch Mizzou play in the SECCG….again.
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Gosh darn it, Brandon, as a service to “yuckin it up with Pawwwwl” you need to keep up with all things Timmy and you can do that by checking in every now and then on “TimTeblog.com, offering obsessive coverage of the Tim Tebow phenomenon” (it’s like Powder but only with a bad throwing motion)
http://www.timteblog.com/2015/04/tim-tebow-and-eagles-opportunity-knocks.html
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I wouldn’t start him early, but he needs to be in the rotation. He will enter in Jan. so there will be S&C, spring practice and the seven on sevens in the summer. He should know the play book by fall camp. He doesn’t need to run the scout team he needs to run UGA’s plays in practice. I wouldn’t want to start him until he gained fifteen or twenty pounds., he looks too thin to take a SEC pounding.
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A question for all of you ready to throw Eason into the mix as soon as possible… let’s say Ramsey gets his act together and leads UGA to an SEC championship. You still benching him in favor of a true freshman?
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yes……,all the geniuses that sit near me know,have always known and will always know that the second string qb is the best player on the team. In 2016 as soon as Ramsey(or who ever) throws an INT (which the guy who sits next to me saw coming before it was thrown) the Haters will be calling for Eason . Prepare yourself early. : )
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Nope. But if Ramsey does, then why would Eason choose Georgia knowing Ramsey still has at least one more year, maybe two? And why would Richt tell Eason he won’t recruit another QB? What if he goes down? I’m damn excited about him, overly excited, my wife even watched film for the first time and thinks the kid is good looking. But why do I have this angst? Damn can we please show up to every game one year before I have a heart attack? I don’t invite friends over to watch games. I scream. I yell. My heart palpitates. I think watching Georgia football shortened my grandfathers life by 20 years.
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Georgia is still a great fit for him, and he may save some wear and tear.
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I don’t think Richt will recruit another qb in that class since he has a few on campus that can step in if Eason isn’t what he seems to be. He better be recruiting qbs every year. Willy Korn pretty much cost Terry Bowden his job after Bowden promised the qb the moon to come to Clemson and agreed to not sign any other qbs.
I’ve been watching Georgia football for 45 years and there have been plenty of superstar recruits that fell flat. Eason looks legit, but I’ll wait until I see him in action in a live game before I’m ready to kick everybody else to the curb.
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He’s already got a QB commitment in the 2017 class.
One thing I don’t worry about with Richt is his ability to attract good QB recruits.
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Who says Ramsey and his super arm don’t bolt for the NFL after a huge season in 2015?
Too optimistic? 🙂
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I would be in favor of the Coaches playing the best QB…
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My thoughts exactly.
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Or…Bauta turns out to be a dual threat, blue collar, Tebow style qb who leads us to an SEC championship? I’m with you Senator, I don’t bench a good qb so that a true freshman can learn on the job unless the true freshman is so good, you can’t in good conscience keep him off the field. I hope he’s that good, but I was at Georgia when Jamie Harris signed.
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If you wanna win the Kentucky Derby you don’t leave you stud in the barn. He’ll be starting by game 7. And he’s gone in 3 yrs. It will be a fun ride with a few bumps on the way. Looking forward to the WR s getting back in game form and timing down… let ’em play.
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