Gators impressed with Dogs’ freshman QB
‘Future of the SEC’ improving quickly, McElwain says.
GA I N E SV I L L E — G e o r g i a freshman quarterback Jacob Eason has been up and down at times in his first college season, but Florida coach Jim McElwain has seen enough to be convinced about the much ballyhooed rookie.
“This guy, in my opinion, is the future of the SEC. I mean he’s that good. And his ability to push the ball downfield is something that is very impressive,” McElwain said Monday.
The No. 14 Gators (5-1, 3-1 SEC) meet Georgia (4-3, 2-3) in their annual rivalry clash in Jacksonville on Saturday.
Eason was rated as a 5-star recruit , the No. 5 overall prospect in his class and the No. 2 pro style quarterback, according to the 247Sports composite rankings.
He also considered the Gators before signing with the Bulldogs.
Florida senior safety Marcus Maye brought up that poi nt Monday i n t a l k i ng about facing Eason. No. 14 Florida vs. Georgia, at Jacksonville, 3:30 p.m., CBS
“I guess he was on the fence bet ween here and Georgia and he chose those guys, but I mean, he has a great arm, he’s going to be a great quarterback in the future and stuff like that,” Maye said. “He can make all the throws. He’s young, but he’s learning as he goes, so I’m excited. We’re excited to go out against him and see what he’s got.”
Maye acknowledged the Florida players were following Eason’s college decision through the end of that process.
“I guess a good amount because we were one of his top schools, but eventually he made his decision to go with those guys. It’s all going to be fun Saturday going against him,” Maye said.
E a s o n h a s c o mpl e t e d 54.3 percent of his passes for 1,366 yards, nine touchdowns and five interceptions this fall. He threw for 346 yards and a touchdown in the Bulldogs’ last game against Vanderbilt, bouncing back from an off performance at South Carolina in which he completed 5 of 17 passes for 29 yards, with one TD and one interception.
Overall, Eason has t wo 3 00-ya rd pas s i ng g a mes already, having thrown for 308 yards, three TDs and one interception against Missouri in Week 3.
“You know, the learning curve, natural for anybody at that position, and yet man he can hurt you in a hurry,” McElwain said.
Florida has given up the second-fewest passing yards in the country, holding opponents to 132.8 yards per game through the air.
Gators to monitor Davis: McElwain said he will monitor linebacker Jarrad Davis’ progress from an ankle injury before making a decision on his status later in the week.
Davis sustained a bad ankle sprain in the Gators’ 40-14 win over Missouri two weekends ago.
The senior leads the Gators with 48 tackles, is tied for the team lead with four pass break-ups and has 3.5 tackles for loss, two sacks and three quarterback hurries.
“Right now that’s one that we’ll push through the week, and know this, we won’t ever jeopardize anything there. It would have to be right in all these guys’ cases,” McElwain said.
That also goes for senior defensive end Bryan Cox Jr. (thumb), redshirt junior defensive end Jordan Sherit (knee) and senior nose tackle Joey Ivie (thumb). Sherit and Ivie have missed the past two games, while Cox did not play against Missouri after sustaining a fluke injury during pregame warm-ups.