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After a freshman season where he was learning while playing, UGA QB Jacob Eason has become more comfortable in a college offense.

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Jacob Eason was thrown into the fire as a true freshman quarterback at Georgia last season. For the year, he was good, but not spectacular.

Now, he is ready to take the next step, and that year of experience is paying off for him.

“It’s a whole new world,” Eason said. “I’ve been here for a year now. I’ve been here through last spring, through the season and I’ve got some good experience under my belt. So, this time, compared to last summer, is not much of a comparison. I feel like I know where I’m going with the ball, I can make checks … I feel a lot better.”

That is good news for a Georgia team that is looking to do big things in head coach Kirby Smart’s second season in Athens. With experience returning at the running back position with both Nick Chubb and Sony Michel, and a lot of talent coming back for the defense, the Dawgs will be a favorite to represent the SEC East in Atlanta come December.

For Eason, last season was a year of learning on the fly.

“A lot of that last year was the playbook, coming from high school, coming from a spread offense, playing under center, learning to take snaps under center, making reads against an SEC defense,” Eason said. “There was a lot I was having to learn.”

With him now having more knowledge of the offense and his natural ability able to take over, Georgia fans will have high expectations for Eason. His head coach expects the same.

“There are things that Jacob can handle now, so we’re able to do a few more things, like being able to open things up to run the ball as well as throw the ball,” Smart said. “We’ve been able to give him some options to check into and out of things. If a guy can get you into a certain play that helps, and he’s certainly more comfortable than he was at the end of the year last year.”

Eason will take it one day at a time, but he knows where he has become better when preparing for a game and opponent.

“I’ve become better at watching film, too, and that’s helped a lot,” Eason said. “I was still learning how to become a quarterback last year, and I still am. I have a long way to go. But there’s a comfort that comes along and gives you the confidence to make plays, make checks and all that stuff.”

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