In his first season at Georgia, Jacob Eason has had several moments that are to be expected from a freshman starting in the SEC.
There are still missed throws, poor decisions, time-management problems and overlooked opportunities. Those are all parts of starting a true freshman at quarterback, and Eason is no exception.
When the game is on the line, however, Eason is exceptional.
After Kentucky tied Saturday night’s game at 24 with just under three minutes in the fourth quarter, Eason engineered a drive that covered 67 yards in 9 plays and ended with a game-winning field goal.
On that drive, Eason was 4-for-4 for 42 yards and kept Georgia from facing a single third down.
“We threw and caught the ball on that drive,” Kirby Smart said at his post-game press conference. “Imagine that, throw and catch. We threw and caught the ball. When we do that, we’re a balanced team. When we’re a balanced team, we’re a good team.”
For the season, Eason is completing 53.3 percent of his passes for 1,754 yards with 11 TDs and 5 INTs. Those are strong numbers for a true freshman quarterback behind a suspect offensive line with receivers who have struggled to hang onto the football.
In close games where Georgia is trailing in the fourth quarter, Eason has truly risen to the occasion. The freshman has a 55.8 completion percentage and thrown for 332 yards with 2 touchdowns and a pick.
One of those touchdowns was a game-winner and the other one very well should have been. Against North Carolina, Missouri and Tennessee, Eason made an incredible play that greatly impacted the game. Saturday’s game lacked that standout moment, but it was noteworthy for a different reason.
At times, Eason has been bailed out by a pass interference call or big play on a fourth down. Facing Kentucky, Eason looked more like a veteran navigating his team down the field and keeping them ahead of the chains.
There weren’t any wasted throws, which is a strong sign in Eason’s development.
“I thought Jacob managed it well. He made some good decisions with the ball,” Smart said of Eason’s performance on that drive.
Georgia’s coaching staff helped their quarterback out by calling quick-hitting plays and getting Eason into a nice rhythm. He responded by leading the Bulldogs on one of their smoothest drives of the season at a point when a loss would have furthered the team’s losing streak and raised even more questions from a worried fan base.
It was Eason’s second game-winning drive in his nine games at Georgia. He essentially delivered three game-winning drives, but we all remember what happened after Eason hit Riley Ridley in stride between two Tennessee defenders for a 47-yard score.
In one-third of his young career for the Bulldogs, Eason has been a large asset at a point in games where most coaches are trying to minimize their liabilities. Usually, freshmen must learn how to make impact plays down the stretch. For Eason, that seems to come naturally.
“He does not feel pressure,” Smart said at his post-game press conference. “That’s just the kid. The kid’s got a very calm demeanor. That’s what you want a quarterback to have composure-wise. He doesn’t really get much flustered, I’m proud of him for that.”
Georgia’s head coach has not been shy about bringing up the areas where Eason must improve. Smart has consistently praised Eason’s composure and ability to stay poised when lesser men might succumb to the surrounding pressure.
The talent is apparent with Eason, but his game still requires a decent amount of polish. Refinement is needed with every young quarterback, however, and all signs indicate the Bulldogs’ quarterback is heading in the right direction.
Calmness in tense situations is a trait that is much harder to develop and can take significantly more time. Fortunately, Eason won’t need any help in that aspect of his game.
When the pressure is on, Jacob Eason doesn’t crack. He shines.
William McFadden covers the University of Georgia for Saturday Down South. For news on everything happening between the hedges, follow him on Twitter @willmcfadden.
