QB job is up in air thanks to Eason’s act

ATHENS — Jacob Eason’s debut was dazzling enough that at least one well-respected coach out there decided the freshman should be the starter. The starting holder, that is. Remember, the first time Eason took the field on Saturday on G-Day was to hold for a field goal. He pulled that off flawlessly, according to Marc Nolan, a private kicking coach in the Atlanta area.

“Eason should absolutely be the holder,” Nolan said.

What can’t the guy do? Well, he still may not be Georgia’s actual starting quarterback.

Eason’s performance on G-Day did two things. It confirmed that the hype is real and that his becoming the starter is only a matter of time. But it also muddied the waters in a competition that had been trending heavily in the direction of Greyson Lambert, last year’s starter.

Kirby Smart won’t base the decision on just one G-Day performance. And while Eason clearly had the best day and Lambert the worst, it’s also true that Eason only went against the second-team defense while Lambert faced the first team.

Afterwards, Smart was dismissive of the idea that Eason had to be the starter based on what was seen. Near the end of his press conference, Smart was asked again about Eason and the coach used it to once again throw caution on the “Eason must start” campaign.

“He throws BBs. Sometimes he throws them to our team, sometimes he throws them to the other team, but he throws BBs,” Smart said. “He can spin the ball. I’ve said that. I didn’t hide anything from you all when I said the guy has an elite arm. He’s got great arm strength, he’s got great arm talent.

“He makes good decisions most of the time. And he’s got to communicate better. So again, I’m glad everybody got to come out and see Jacob Eason. I think the welcoming and the warming, everyone clapping, that’s all great.”

Then Smart pounded the podium a few times to make his last point.

“But the guy that starts the game against North Carolina (in the opener) will be the guy that gives us the best chance to win the game,” he said. “And if that’s Jacob Eason, then it’ll be Jacob Eason. But it may not be. And our fan base — just like we said, come out and support us — they’re going to support us whoever our quarterback is. That fourth quarterback did a pretty good job, didn’t he? You going to talk about him?”

Yes, walk-on Nick Robinson led a touchdown drive, going 5 for 7. But this competition is still about Georgia’s three scholarship quarterbacks, with Brice Ramsey also still a factor.

Smart said before G-Day that the quarterback competition would likely go into August. Many outside the program will use G-Day to judge Eason as the clear winner. But Georgia’s coaches are either making Eason work hard for the job or there really is more to grade it on than one scrimmage.

Who knows? Eason may not even end up being the holder.

Secondteam defense is no match for Jacob Eason.