Greyson Lambert is smart enough to have graduated from the University of Virginia in just three and a half years, so he probably didn’t need much help figuring out what it meant when new offensive coordinator Jim Chaney’s first order of business upon flying to Athens was to meet Jacob Eason.

That was in December, and it was still a precarious time for new Bulldogs coach Kirby Smart as he began assembling his staff after taking over for Mark Richt. Keeping Eason was crucial as the former five-star quarterback prospect hailed as a savior by frustrated Dawgs fans had begun wavering on his commitment following the coaching change.

It spoke volumes that Chaney met with Eason but did not personally greet Lambert, the incumbent Virginia graduate transfer who quarterbacked the Dawgs to mixed results in 2015.

It’s clear that the talented Eason is the future, but whether that era begins in 2016 is unknown. Spring practice and fall camp will determine whether Lambert is officially relegated to an afterthought as the two will compete for the starting job, along with Brice Ramsey.

Georgia opens the season against North Carolina on Sept. 3.

Lambert understands the situation.

“Well, I mean, no matter where you go or what year it is, there’s always going to be competition,” he told the website DawgNation. “There’s competition everywhere. I’ve been in a QB competition all four years of my college career. And so it’s really nothing new. I’m looking forward to competing.”

Lambert, a rising fifth-year senior, didn’t arrive in Athens until July 13, but Richt saw enough of him in that short period to start him in the season opener against Louisiana-Monroe.

Lambert’s numbers were modest for most of the season, with the exception of the Sept. 19 game against visiting South Carolina, when Lambert set an NCAA record for completion percentage by completing 24 of 25 passes for 330 yards and 3 touchdowns in a 52-20 victory.

Lambert went 10-2 as the starter but didn’t exactly keep opposing defensive coordinators awake at night worrying about his ability to attack vertically and carry the Nick Chubb-less Dawgs on his big right arm.

He completed better than 63 percent of passes for 1,959 yards with 12 touchdowns and two interceptions, but was never able to consistently deliver a big play down field when the Dawgs had to have one.

Perhaps it was the baggage he brought with him from UVa., where he played poorly and lost the starting job to initiate his transfer in the first place. But Lambert was gun-shy last season, too often preferring to check off to a shorter, higher-percentage pass to a back rather than take any increased risks downfield.

Georgia ranked 12th in the SEC in pass plays longer than 30 yards last season with just 11. And the Bulldogs were one of only two SEC teams without a pass play longer than 50 yards.

Lambert’s penchant for looking exclusively for wide receiver Malcolm Mitchell made the Bulldogs predictable, and some shaky play-calling by former offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer didn’t help.

“I definitely needed to be more consistent,” Lambert told DawgNation. “I felt like if you compare it to my last season at Virginia, I made some improvements. But it was not good enough to get us where we wanted to be this year.”

Georgia fans clamoring for the school’s first SEC Championship in 10 years demanded more, but Ramsey proved to be no better in the limited action he saw.

Things became so dire that Richt started the untested Faton Bauta for the annual showdown with Florida, only to see that turn into an ugly 27-3 loss following Bauta’s four interceptions. The move was a sign of desperation, one that ultimately played a role in Richt’s dismissal.

But the fact Richt even considered such a gamble in the middle of the season said you all you needed to know about the staff’s belief in Lambert and Ramsey at that point.

Lambert assumed his starting role again following that disaster, leaving disappointed Georgia fans to take their only solace in the hope that he was just keeping the seat warm for Eason.

Not exactly true love from Bulldog Nation, but Lambert nonetheless remained positive as the Dawgs prepared to play Penn State in the TaxSlayer Bowl in Jacksonville.

His numbers were again pedestrian — 115 yards, one touchdown throw — but they were enough to help Georgia hold on for a 24-17 win.

The struggles in the passing game played a pivotal role in Georgia finishing the season ranked 99th nationally in red zone conversions (35.71) percent) and a dismal 120th (31.01 percent) in third-down conversions.

That has to improve if Georgia is to contend in 2016. It remains to be seen whether it’s with Lambert again at the helm, however.

The Bulldogs open spring practice March 15, culminating with their G-Day Spring Game at Sanford Stadium on April 16.

Eason will be there. So will Lambert and Ramsey. The race to 2016 is on.