HOOVER, Ala. — Safety Dominick Sanders didn’t mince words Tuesday when asked what was the biggest difference in Georgia’s offense with freshman quarterback Jacob Eason under center.
“More intense,” Sanders said. “More explosive.”
More explosive.
That element was sorely absent last season, when Georgia completed just three passes of 40 yards or longer. No SEC team had fewer. That inability to stretch the field became even more problematic and obvious after Nick Chubb’s season-ending knee injury.
Georgia will enter fall camp still trying to sort out its quarterback situation. Greyson Lambert, a check-down artist, returns. Brice Ramsey is in the mix.
The fans’ choice is obvious. They want Eason, and 93,000 voiced their opinion during the spring game he dominated with the type of deep, accurate, explosive throws the Bulldogs couldn’t complete last season.
If Georgia coach Kirby Smart is leaning one way or another, he clearly didn’t tip his hand Tuesday at SEC Media Days.
The players were diplomatic as well. They complimented each quarterback, particularly their leadership qualities, but there was a noticeable difference in their mannerisms when the topic turned to Eason, the five-star prospect with NFL-level arm talent.
“The kid can throw,” Sanders said. “Many quarterbacks don’t look you off, but the kid is very talented and a very hard worker. It’s a pleasure going against him every day.”
Senior center Brandon Kublanow smiled when asked what’s the biggest difference he saw this spring when Eason was on the field.
“He can throw the ball really well,” Kublanow said. “He just has a different style.”
Managing Editor
A 30-time APSE award-winning editor with previous stints at the Miami Herald, The Indianapolis Star and News & Observer, Executive Editor Chris Wright oversees editorial operations for Saturday Down South.
