Report: Georgia QB, Week 1 starter Jacob Eason expected to transfer to Washington

Eason sustained an injury in Week 1 and was permanently replaced by Jake Fromm

By Ben Kercheval

& Barrett Sallee

Jan 9, 2018 at 11:09 am ET • 1 min read

Quarterback Jacob Eason, Georgia's Week 1 starter, is leaning heavily toward transferring to Washington, reports Adam Jude of the Seattle Times. Eason announced Friday on Twitter that he is leaving the Bulldogs.

Thank you UGA for an incredible two years. The memories and relationships I have made will truly last a lifetime. I will miss suiting up in red and black, but Athens will always be a place I can call home. -Skinnyqb pic.twitter.com/2vyMVa0UE0
— Jacob Eason (@skinnyqb10) January 12, 2018

Eason -- the 2015 Gatorade National Football Player of the Year -- was the Bulldogs' starter as a freshman during the 2016 season, throwing for 2,430 yards, 16 touchdowns and eight interceptions. However, Eason injured his knee during the first game of the 2017 season against Appalachian State. He was replaced by freshman Jake Fromm, who went on to lead the Bulldogs' offense to a national title game appearance against Alabama.

As such, Fromm was the full-time starter even when Eason was healthy enough to return. The sophomore appeared in five games this season in mop-up duty and completed four passes for 28 yards. Given the way Fromm finished out the season with big-time throws in the Rose Bowl semifinal vs. Georgia and in the national championship against Alabama, there was no way Eason was earning his starting job back. And with five-star quarterback Justin Fields enrolling early, Georgia's QB depth chart was about to get even more competitive, not less.

Eason will have to sit out the 2018 season due to NCAA rules. He will have two years of eligibility remaining.