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What we learned about Georgia: 5 spring takeaways

Randy Capps

By Randy Capps

Published:

Now that Georgia’s G-Day spring game is in the books, it’s time to take stock of what we’ve learned about the Bulldogs in the past few weeks:

1. THE JACOB EASON HYPE ISN’T GOING AWAY

With Nick Chubb still recovering from his knee injury, the main attraction for the 93,000 fans in attendance in Athens on Saturday was true freshman quarterback Jacob Eason.

Eason, a five-star recruit, was the top-rated pocket passer coming out of high school in this class, and he lived up to his billing in the spring game.

He threw for 244 yards and a touchdown, which naturally raised the volume of the chorus of fans calling for him to start the season opener. Greyson Lambert giving up a 98-yard interception return to Aaron Davis in the third quarter didn’t exactly endear him to the Bulldog faithful, either.

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Georgia coach Kirby Smart was busy pumping the brakes a bit on that hype train in the post game presser:

“Will they?” he said when asked about fans calling for the freshman to start. “Then I’ll say they need to go to Coaching 101. … Because I don’t see that being the case. What I see is three guys, all of whom have different traits. And all of them having improving to do.

“He throws BBs. Sometimes he throws BBs to the other team, sometimes he throws BBs to our team … Again, I’m glad everyone came out to see Jacob Eason … But the guy that starts against North Carolina will be the guy that gives us the best chance to win the game.”

He’s wise to try to keep the expectations down for Eason, but it will be an upset if the freshman doesn’t get his chance sooner rather than later.

2. EXCITEMENT ABOUNDS

He may not have been thrilled about the volume of Eason questions from the assembled media Saturday, but he was very pleased with the attendance.

He challenged Georgia fans to pack Sanford Stadium, and they did just that. The 93,000 attendance figure was nearly twice the previous record for a spring game.

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“There were a lot of doubters who said they wouldn’t come, they will find something else to do, they will stay in Atlanta, but they came,” Smart said.

3. NEW RECEIVERS EMERGE

With Malcolm Mitchell’s departure, it was important that some new go-to targets emerge.

We saw some signs of that in the spring game, with rising sophomores Michael Chigbu and Jayson Stanley and senior Reggie Davis (six catches, 134 yards) making some nice plays.

4. A STRENGTH GAME

It wasn’t a coincidence that Smart told the ESPN News crew during the game, Shannon Spake right after it and then assembled reporters in the media room the same thing Saturday.

“We need to get stronger.”

There were some standouts on the front seven, however, as rising junior linebacker D’Andre Walker picked up four sacks in the contest.

It’s tough for offensive and defensive linemen to look good in a spring game atmosphere, but it’s clear that Smart is looking for much more out of those players.

5. YOUTH MOVEMENT

Aside from Eason, two other early enrollees made their mark on the spring game. Eason’s roommate, tight end Isaac Nauta, hauled in six passes for 56 yards and a score while wide receiver Riley Ridley added four receptions for 68 yards.

This pass was Eason’s first completion to Ridley, and it was one that highlighted the abilities of both players:

Randy Capps

Randy Capps is a contributing writer for Saturday Down South. He covers SEC football, South Carolina and Georgia.

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