HOOVER, Ala. -- Kirby Smart brought up the quarterback battle nearly right off the bat at SEC Media Day knowing it would be at the forefront of most media members' minds.
The two Bulldog QBs most talked about: senior Grayson Lambert who threw nearly 2,000 yards last season, but was largely inconsistent and struggled with turnovers.
Then there's the kid: Jacob Eason. The fan favorite who had an inspiring spring game that showed he could have no problem taking over the team.
PHOTOS | The view at SEC Media Day
It won't be an easy decision, but it will not be one where emotion will cloud judgment with factors such as Lambert being a senior or Eason's inevitable fate of being the next star quarterback to play between the hedges.
Smart won't take any of that into account. His final decision won't even come down to who he thinks is the best quarterback. Rather, Smart clarified it will be the one that he believes has the opportunity to lead the team to the most victories.
"I don't know who that is. If I knew, I promise you, I would tell you," Smart said.
Before he knows, Smart has to evaluate his quarterbacks' improvement. Across the nearly month of practices before the Sept. 3 season opener against North Carolina, the former Alabama defensive coordinator wants to see who can take leadership of his team and who the team is most receptive with. Georgia's two top tailbacks are questionable for the start of the season while they recover from injury, so the poise of the man under center will be crucial to start the season.
Lambert had that chance and was under-whelming last season. But his experience with the team no doubt enables him to be a natural leader. That is, easier than it will be for Eason, who is just 18 and has a lot to learn coming straight out of high school.
That's a lot for a kid.
"I didn't know what to expect," tight-end Jeb Blazevich said on the early-enrolled quarterback. "He had a lot of pressure and a lot of attention on him. I kind of felt bad about him. He's obviously worked, he has an awesome arm. He's a really good guy, and I'm really excited to see him compete against Brice (Ramsey) and Grayson."
"Jacob has done a great job. He's come in and worked hard," center Brandon Klublano said. "Obviously, he's under a lot of scrutiny, but we feel like all three guys have done an amazing job, and we'll see how it goes during fall camp."
The popular belief seems to be that Lambert will get the start, but it will be Eason who takes over- possibly even in game one- and becomes the face of the Bulldogs.
"He'll pick Lambert, and he'll quickly get Eason in," ESPN radio show host Paul Finebaum predicted in an interview with 11Alive. "The fans just have to be patient. He will be the starting quarterback. He is the future of Georgia football. Someone said today Lambert did a great job.' Yeah, he did. He got Mark Richt fired, among other reasons."
Largely ignored from the conversation is junior Brice Ramsey who is in contention, but will be more likely seen behind the long snapper after discovering his punting skills last season.
So as the summer heats up, so will Georgia's quarterback battle. It could come down to a game-time decision come the season-opener against North Carolina.
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