SEATTLE - University of Washington quarterback Jacob Eason is giving up his final season of eligibility to enter the NFL draft pool.
Eason started 13 games this year after beginning his college career with the Georgia Bulldogs before transferring after his sophomore season, forcing him to sit out 2018 per NCAA rules. He threw for 3,132 yards and 23 touchdowns for the Huskies in a season when at times he looked like a sure first-round pick and at times it appeared another season of college would help his draft position.
"I want to thank everyone at the UW - my teammates, the coaching staff and the fans - for making these last two years so memorable," Eason said in a school release Thursday announcing his decision. "I'm very happy that I was able to come home and play for the Dawgs, and will always be grateful."
Eason's decision caps weeks of debate about his future. He chose to play in Washington's bowl game victory over Boise State rather than follow the path of teammates Trey Adams and Hunter Bryant, who skipped the game to focus on preparations for next spring's draft.
Washington's coaching change from the retiring Chris Petersen to former Huskies defensive coordinator Jimmy Lake plus the subsequent decision to fire offensive coordinator Bush Hamdan added more layers to Eason's decision.
Ultimately, the draw of pro football won out.
"The opportunity to play quarterback in the NFL has been a lifelong dream and my heart is set on the challenge ahead," Eason wrote in a post he shared via social media.
Eason was a five-star recruit out of nearby Lake Stevens who opted to go across the country to play at Georgia. He started as a freshman for the Bulldogs but lost that No. 1 job to Jake Fromm during his sophomore season after getting injured in the season opener.
Eason, who beat out Jake Haener for the starting job with the Huskies this past preseason, completed 64.2% of his passes this year and had standout games early in the schedule against Eastern Washington, BYU and Arizona. His best game may have come in a loss to Oregon as he finished 23-of-30 passing for 289 yards and three touchdowns.
The 6-foot-5, 227-pound Eason has the prototypes of an NFL quarterback, boasting one of the strongest arms in college, but he has struggled with inconsistency at times during his collegiate career.
"We wish Jacob nothing but the best," Lake said in the school release. "He was a terrific teammate who worked very hard in his two years as a Husky. I'm looking forward to watching him succeed at the next level."