Coach John Eason to FAMU Rumors: Update

The Tallahassee paper is reporting that Georgia has given Florida A&M permission to speak with WR Coach John Eason. He was expected to interview for the position as early as today. Claude Felton, UGA SID, confirmed that permission was given to the Rattlers to speak with Eason.

Best of luck to Coach Eason. This would have to be one of his dream jobs.

If he were to leave, the candidate list to replace him at WR coach would probably start with Tony Ball and Bryan McClendon. Ball is Georgia's running backs coach, but he served as WR coach for Frank Beamer at Virginia Tech. McClendon is a former UGA player (2005 Graduate), and he is currently a graduate assistant on Mark Richt's staff. Per Georgiadogs.com

At Georgia, McClendon's career blossomed during his senior season. As the Bulldogs claimed an SEC title, the Atlanta, Ga., native hauled in 35 passes and six touchdowns. He caught the game-winning TD pass in the closing minutes against Georgia Tech, and then blocked a punt in the SEC Championship, which led to the Bulldogs' third TD of the game. He was part of a senior class that won 44 games – the most by any class in Georgia history.

McClendon vs. LSU 2005 (Image: Hipple)

BMac has two SEC Championship rings as a player, and his dad is one of the top running backs in UGA history. However, he's very, very young. This is only his first year coaching. I'd love to see him get some seasoning elsewhere and have us pursue a more established candidate. A candidate like Darryl Drake.

Drake was the WR coach for the Georgia Bulldogs from 1992-1996. He later worked with Mack Brown at Texas from 1998-2002. While at UGA, he worked under offensive coordinator Wayne McDuffie. It was McDuffie that invented many of the offensive concepts that Mark Richt now uses while at FSU. Drake also recruited under Mack Brown so he should be well versed there. I doubt we could pull him away from the Chicago Bears, but he'd be my first call.

It'll be interesting to see how things unfold if Coach Eason leaves. Richt hasn't hired anyone for any of his openings that was expected. Coaches Rucker (RB), Ball (RB), Jancek* (LB) and Searels (OL) were all out of left field. Kirby Smart wasn't a shocker, but putting him at RB coach was.

I'd wager that it would end up being someone wildly unexpected.

See Also:
-- Coach Eason up for FAMU job? - GSB

By the way -- To answer the question from earlier in the week...no. I don't think it would impact our recruiting of AJ Green or Tavarres King.

PWD

*Yes, I know that I usually put the C in the wrong place when spelling his name. However, in fairness our SAM linebackers are usually in the wrong place so I think that makes us even.

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