After an up-and-down experience to start his career courtesy of the Georgia Bulldogs, heralded 5-star quarterback Jacob Eason transferred back home to Washington. He was forced to sit out last season, subjecting Washington fans to having to watch Jake Browning try to throw the football. Now Eason’s the starter and Washington fans were treated to a show against Eastern Washington. Eason started his campaign to be selected high in the NFL Draft off with a bang.
Eason went 27 of 36 for 349 yards and four touchdowns in Washington’s rout of Eastern Washington. Those 349 yards are the most by a newcomer in Washington history and were the most a Washington QB has had since Week 12 of the 2017 season. The four touchdowns are the most by a Washington QB since Week 2(!) of 2017. The offense looked like a completely new unit with Eason under center, as he was dealing to all levels of the field.
Jacob Eason had a phenomenal debut for the Washington Huskies. Made a few big throws and looked decisive and in command all game long. pic.twitter.com/qeRM60NQN2
— AJ Schulte (@AJDraftScout) September 4, 2019
He was rarely pressured, but he made the most of his opportunities all game long. He went 4 of 8 on deep passing plays for 125 passing yards and two touchdowns.
One of the biggest things that stood out to me about this game was how poised and in command Eason seemed in this game. There wasn’t any panic, no jumpiness in the pocket. Eason stood in and fired, throw after throw. The arm talent was on full display, with an impressive array of throws throughout the game. Eight different players caught a pass in the season debut.
The most impressive throw Eason made wasn’t even a completion. Everybody knew Eason possesses an incredibly strong arm, but this incompletion to Aaron Fuller really highlighted just how talented Eason really is.
What this kid could have done with John Ross…
He launches this from about the 34-35 yard line and it lands at the 1.
Silly. pic.twitter.com/1T0RFqgjs1— AJ Schulte (@AJDraftScout) September 4, 2019
After the game, Washington WR Aaron Fuller, the intended target on the play, joked about the throw, saying, “I swear to you it came from Heaven. I saw it went into the clouds… I don’t know how he did it, but he did it with ease”.
Eason talked after the game about how different this debut was from his Georgia opener, “That was so long ago. I was in a different place… I don’t like to make comparisons… but obviously being home in front of the family and in front of the home state…that meant a lot to me. It was just awesome to get out there and do what I do and have fun doing it.”
With lots of debate about the quarterbacks of this 2020 NFL Draft, Eason fell under the radar. On a weekend where both Justin Herbert and Jordan Love both got off to underwhelming starts, Eason opened up with a statement performance. If Eason can continue these performances, I would not be shocked to hear his name called very early in the NFL Draft. He plays a tough Pac-12 opponent next week in the Cal Golden Bears, and if he plays up to snuff, the race for QB1 just got a new addition.