Georgia Football: 5 reasons Jacob Eason should start at quarterback in 2016

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Georgia QB Matthew Stafford throws a practice pass before the game between the University of Georgia Bulldogs and University of Alabama-Birmingham (UAB) Blazers at Sanford Stadium in Athens, GA on September 16, 2006. The Bulldogs beat the Blazers 34-0. (Photo by Mike Zarrilli/Getty Images) /

4. No guarantees he stays for four seasons

Whether or not Dawg Nation wants to admit it, there are no guarantees that Eason will play four years at Georgia before declaring for the NFL Draft. While Smart almost certainly won’t redshirt him in 2016, Eason could very well declare for the 2019 NFL Draft after his true junior campaign in Athens.

Under Richt, Georgia preferred to use multi-year starting quarterbacks in former offensive coordinator Mike Bobo’s pro-style system. David Greene started four years, Matthew Stafford started for two and a half, and Aaron Murray was a four year starter for Georgia.

While Greene and Murray are legendary starting quarterbacks for the Bulldogs, neither had the NFL upside that Stafford did who went No. 1 overall in the 2009 NFL Draft to the 0-16 Detroit Lions. Stafford was considered the best commitment Georgia received in the Richt era (2001-15) and Eason often draws comparisons to the former Bulldogs starting quarterback.

Both rocket-armed righties came to Georgia from well outside of the SEC recruiting region. Stafford starred in Highland Park, Texas and Eason won Gatorade National Player of the Year in Lake Stevens, Washington.

Eason could theoretically stay at Georgia through his 2019 true senior season, but since he enrolled early and will probably have his undergraduate degree completed well ahead of time, he could leave a year early and enter the 2019 NFL Draft. There are no guarantees that Eason will spend all four available collegiate years in Athens. It would be wise of Smart to make the most of them.

Next: 3. Smart won't want Dawg Nation to turn on him.

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