No. 13 Washington Taps Jacob Eason Starting QB; Jake Haener Leaves

SEATTLE (AP) — No. 13 Washington has named Georgia transfer Jacob Eason its starting quarterback for the season opener against Eastern Washington.

Eason was expected to land the starting job after transferring to the Huskies but was in an extended competition with sophomore Jake Haener throughout spring practice and into fall camp. Coach Chris Petersen said Haener will also play in the opener.

Eason started as a freshman at Georgia, playing in 13 games and throwing for 2,430 yards and 16 touchdowns in 2016.

He was injured in the first quarter of the season opener the following year and never regained the starting job after Jake Fromm took over and led the Bulldogs to the national championship game. Eason transferred and sat out last season under NCAA transfer rules.

Eason's first start at Washington will be his first game action since Oct. 7, 2017, against Vanderbilt.

SEATTLE (AP) — Backup quarterback Jake Haener is leaving No. 13 Washington after losing a camp battle for the starting job to Georgia transfer Jacob Eason.

Washington released a statement on Saturday announcing Haener was leaving the program effective immediately. There were no other details. A day earlier, Washington coach Chris Petersen announced Eason would be the starter for the opener against Eastern Washington next week, but indicated Haener would play.

"He should, he deserves it and he will," Petersen said of Haener on Friday.

But Haener had different plans and becomes the second quarterback to transfer from Washington this calendar year. Colson Yankoff transferred to UCLA in June.

Haener appeared in three games last season and was 9 of 13 passing for 109 yards, one touchdown and one interception. His decision leaves just three scholarship quarterbacks on Washington's roster going into the season: Eason, redshirt freshman Jacob Sirmon and true freshman Dylan Morris.