Jacob Eason, Nation's Top QB Recruit, May Follow Mark Richt to Miami
By Kyle Koster
The Miami Hurricanes may have already secured the best available coach in Mark Richt. In 15 years at Georgia, he went 145-51 and won two SEC Championships. He didn’t take shortcuts in exchange for on-field results and, by all accounts, ran an upstanding program. His ouster, which looked inevitable for the last month, is still surprising considering his body of work.
The Bulldogs’ choice to hand the reins over to Alabama defensive coordinator Kirby Smart, a head coach neophyte, proves they are willing to take the devil they didn’t know rather the one currently in house. Miami, seeking a big name to replace underachieving Al Golden, were smart to lock Richt up just three days later. The decision will look even better if he’s is able to convince Jacob Eason, the nation’s top quarterback recruit, to follow him down to Coral Gables.
Eason, a five-star pocket passer, re-opened his recruiting after Richt’s dismissal from Miami, visiting Florida. There’s a belief his tight relationship with the former Georgia coach makes Miami a strong contender. Eason’s personal quarterback said yesterday that the Hurricanes will have a shot.
If Richt is able to convince Eason to head even further south, it will be a tremendous coup. And it will make an already strong coaching hire almost too good to be true.
Richt, with his Miami ties, should thrive in the talent-rich area. He already has a terrific quarterback in Brad Kaaya to provide training for Eason. The ACC Coastal is hardly a murderers’ row. It’s quite possible success is achieved sooner rather than later. One has to turning this into a two-for-one transaction will be an accelerant for the process.