Colts QB Philip Rivers had strong praise for rookie gunslinger Jacob Eason.
Coming into the 2019 college football season, Jacob Eason was widely regarded as one of the top quarterback prospects, which says a lot when you consider that studs like Joe Burrow, Tua Tagovailoa and Justin Herbert were in his class.
When the dust settled, however, Eason’s draft stock plummeted after he led Washington to an underwhelming 8-5 record and posted ordinary numbers in a Pac-12 conference that doesn’t exactly champion defense. Not even the Huskies toppling Boise State in the Las Vegas Bowl wasn’t enough to redeem the 22-year-old’s fate.
Eason’s mediocre junior campaign resulted in him falling to the Indianapolis Colts in the fourth round back in April. While this staggering drop-off could have easily derailed his confidence, the young quarterback has responded with his play in training camp.
The Colts coaching staff has done nothing but heap praise on him in recent weeks, and Philip Rivers jumped on this bandwagon during his latest media session.
Philip Rivers on his early impressions of rookie QB Jacob Eason: "He threw a ball the other day — shoot. I thought to myself, 'I can't do that. I can't make that throw."
— Zak Keefer (@zkeefer) September 2, 2020
"“They (rookies) are in a different boat without the OTAs and the time in person to get a lot of the reps,” Rivers told reporters after practice on Wednesday. “Reps are limited for him (Eason), but he’s the made the most of them. He’s a good addition to the room and certainly improving every day.”"
What’s really taken Rivers by surprise is the sheer strength of Eason’s arm, and how effortlessly he seems to launch the ball downfield.
"“He can really throw it. I mean he threw the other day in individuals that I just shook my head a little bit and said, ‘I can’t do that. I can’t make that throw.’ He’s got a big arm. Strong. Seems to see it really well.”"
Rookie QB Jacob Eason has this series. He really, really looks the part. Impeccable mechanics, lightning quick release. There are other questions, certainly, but the canvas is not blank with this guy.
— Stephen Holder (@HolderStephen) August 29, 2020
Lack of experience is certainly working against Eason as he played just three games from the end of his freshman season to the beginning of his junior season. However, assuming he beats out Chad Kelly for the third-string job, he truly couldn’t be put in a better spot learning under the wing of a potential future Hall of Famer in Rivers.
If this quote from the eight-time Pro Bowler taught us anything, it’s that he is going to relish the opportunity to help the rookie signal caller improve his craft, and that should thrill fans in Indianapolis.