LAKE STEVENS — Jacob Eason really loves playing football in Lake Stevens.
It’s why the senior quarterback committed to a place that reminded him of home.
Eason signed financial agreement papers for the University of Georgia Friday afternoon at a ceremony before the Lake Stevens football team took the field for practice. Several youth football players, community members and family — as well as the whole Vikings team — were on hand as Eason made his commitment to Georgia.
Eason will graduate early from Lake Stevens in December and head to Athens to enroll at Georgia.
“The thing that stood out to me the most was when I first got there was the fan base and the community as a whole. It kind of reminded me a lot of here, actually,” Eason said. “Everyone’s really supportive here and down there everyone is so supportive. Everyone wants to be a part of your life and help you out wherever you can. The coaching staff is great but the thing that jumped out was the community.”
After Eason, who verbally committed to Georgia the summer before his junior year, signed the paperwork his obligations weren’t finished. There were several pictures to take and autographs to sign for the 6-foot-5 quarterback.
“It was awesome,” Eason said. “There’s a really supportive community and I really want to thank all of them for coming out. They’ve been there for me since I was a little kid playing football and all my family and coaches are out here too. It was fun.”
Everyone on hand cheered and clapped for Eason. One of his strongest proponents, Lake Stevens head coach Tom Tri, gave a speech before Eason signed his paperwork talking about his captain.
When the ceremony was over and practice had started Tri was still raving about Eason.
“I’ve been here since 1998 and I love Lake Stevens,” Tri said. “I’ve been a history teacher, a P.E. teacher, a basketball coach, a football coach and we’ve had some great athletes. We really have. It’s just really cool to see an athlete like Jacob get the publicity and the notoriety. He is just such a great kid to have around.”
Tri said that Eason’s fame — his junior season highlight reel on Hudl has over 108,000 views — hasn’t gone to the quarterback’s head. Eason threw for 2,828 yards and 32 touchdowns last season and is one of the top-ranked quarterback recruits in the nation.
“He is the same kid he was as a sophomore. He wants to play around with his buddies in the hallways and in the weight room,” Tri said. “He knows when it’s time to get down to business and he brings his lunch pail like anybody else, but there’s also moments where he’s a prankster. He likes to have fun. That’s part of being a guy on the football team and bringing all your teammates up.
“That’s more than you can ask for as a coach,” Tri continued. “He’s been a really special kid and it’s going to be a real bummer when we lose him.”
Eason’s teammates posed for a picture with him, with the offensive lineman sitting in front of him, his receivers and tight ends to the side and running back Andrew Grimes directly behind him.
“Jake is a guy that absolutely deserves it,” said Riley Krenz, a senior tight end and defensive back and one of Eason’s close friends. “He hasn’t changed from sophomore year to senior year. That’s why it’s so cool and so easy for all of us to say, ‘He’s the best.’ He’s awesome.”
Eason and Krenz, who led Wesco 4A with 706 yards receiving and 11 touchdowns, are two key returners for Lake Stevens, which returns six starters on both offense and defense. The co-captains are eager to get back on the field and make a deep playoff run to cap their Lake Stevens careers.
“I love it,” Eason said. “Getting out here with all the guys and playing with the whole team, it’s awesome to get back here with the whole team and start grinding. That’s what I love.”
“This year definitely feels different than most,” Krenz added. “It’s senior year. All of us that have started (since being) sophomores, this is our final hurrah. It’s definitely cool. It’s surreal. I think we can feel it in practice that it’s a lot more intense, there’s a lot more urgency and a lot more expectations.”
LAKE STEVEN VIKINGS
Head coach: Tom Tri (11th season)
Key returners: Jacob Eason, QB, sr.; Riley Krenz, TE/FS, sr.; Andrew Grimes, RB/DE, sr.; Sam Burke, RB/LB, sr.; Hunter Eckstrom, WR/DB, jr.; Michael Nelson, T/DE, sr.; Lars Eklund, T/DL, sr.
Coach’s quote: “We’ve got guys that were on the team last year but this really is a new season for us. So, we’re cautiously optimistic that if we continue to gel as a team and have great team chemistry we should be challenging for another Wesco 4A title and hopefully making a deep run in the playoffs. That’s truly our goal. We want to get to the Tacoma Dome.”
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