and with the free agent departure of sharpshooter Kevin Martin, he

ATHENS, Ga. -- The home debut of Kirby Smart as No. 9 Georgias coach gained new significance when freshman Jacob Eason was announced as the starting quarterback in Saturdays game against Nicholls.Easons eventual rise to the starting job was widely expected following a preseason competition with 2015 starter Greyson Lambert and Brice Ramsey. Eason, from Lake Stevens, Washington, was regarded by some services as the nations top high school quarterback in this years recruiting class.Eason played behind Lambert in last weeks 33-24 win over North Carolina. Eason completed 8 of 12 passes for 131 yards and one touchdown. Lambert completed 5 of 8 passes for 54 yards.Georgia confirmed early Friday that Eason will start. Current Detroit Lions starter Matthew Stafford is the last Georgia true freshman to start at quarterback. Staffords first start came in the third game of the 2006 season, a 34-0 win over UAB.Georgia (1-0) will use the day to prepare for eight straight Southeastern Conference games, including next weeks visit to Missouri. It will be the opener for Nicholls, a FCS team.Smart hasnt commented on his quarterback decision. He said Monday it is easier for a freshman quarterback to start, thanks to the growth of the passing game in high school.They see so much more, they throw so much more, theyve seen a lot of the defenses before, Smart said. There are a lot more prolific offenses out there in high school football. More teams are throwing in high school football. ... I certainly think quarterbacks come in with more ability to play early.Eason (6-5, 235) looked tall, strong and confident against North Carolina. He displayed his arm strength on a 51-yard completion to Isaiah McKenzie. He also threw a 17-yard scoring pass to McKenzie.Easons rise to the starting job may come as a relief to his teammates after weekly questions about the quarterback competition.It doesnt matter whos in there, Jacob or Greyson or anybody, fullback Christian Payne said Monday. Were going to play our best for whoever.---Some things to know about Nicholls visit to Georgia:`NECESSARY EVIL: Nicholls lost to Arkansas 73-7 in 2014 in its last game against a SEC team and has no win against a FBS team since 2013, when it beat Western Michigan. Coach Tim Rebowe said playing a team like Georgia is a necessary evil. I think all the coaches in the (Southland) conference would agree, Rebowe said. We like to do it. Its great exposure for our program and a lot of our guys want to see if they can compete at the highest level.NO LETDOWN: Smart insists the Bulldogs can improve everywhere. He then added for emphasis Im serious. Anywhere. The win over then-No. 22 North Carolina triggered a big celebration in Atlantas Georgia Dome for Smart, his players and Georgia fans. On Monday the coach insisted that looking back only brought him anguish. You watch the tape and youre sick to your stomach because there are so many things we did wrong that we need to improve on, Smart said.HELP FOR CHUBB: Tailback Nick Chubb was a workhorse as he had 33 carries for 222 yards and two touchdowns last week in his return from his 2015 season-ending knee injury. He is expected to carry a much lighter load against the Colonels, even if Sony Michel isnt cleared to return from his broken forearm.CALLING ALL FRESHMEN: Georgia played 12 freshmen against North Carolina and may expand that list this week. Tailback Elijah Holyfield, held out with an ankle injury last week, could make his debut. Another freshman tailback, Brian Herrien ran for 59 yards with a touchdown on seven carries last week and could play a bigger role.RUNNING QB: Nicholls senior Tuskani Figaro is a dual threat at quarterback. He is 10th on the programs all-time rushing list and has seven career games with at least 100 yards rushing. As a sophomore, he set a school record with 1,103 yards rushing. Figaros 2015 season ended in his ninth start with a collarbone injury at the end of a 75-yard run against Lamar.---AP college football website: www.collegefootball.ap.org Sam Tuivailala Mariners Jersey . Barcelona also left injured defenders Carles Puyol, Javier Mascherano and Jordi Alba out of its squad for the trip to Glasgow. That means that Marc Bartra will probably start again in the centre of the defence alongside Gerard Pique. Zac Grotz Jersey . It was hard for Luck to pull off another comeback, or even get into the end zone, while standing on the sideline. Rivers threw a 22-yard touchdown pass to rookie Keenan Allen and Nick Novak kicked four field goals to give the Chargers a 19-9 victory against the Colts on Monday night. https://www.cheapmariners.com/1465k-donnie-walton-jersey-mariners.html . 24 Baylor in a Big 12 clash between teams trending in opposite directions. Andrew Wiggins made 10-of-12 from the foul line and scored 17 for Kansas (14-4, 5-0 Big 12), which capped a stretch of four straight games against ranked opponents unscathed. Hisashi Iwakuma Jersey . Meanwhile, there were huge victories for Sunderland and West Ham over fellow relegation rivals, leaving the battle to avoid the drop up for grabs with the bottom 11 teams separated by just six points. Eden Hazard and Fernando Torres scored second-half goals to seal a fourth straight victory for Chelsea, which climbed above Arsenal and Manchester City in the standings ahead of their games on Monday and Sunday respectively. Dave Valle Jersey . Here are his mid-season NBA awards. MVP: (KEVIN DURANT-Thunder) - Has been sensational this season and more importantly, the most consistent player in the league. Considering that his team has been without star guard Russell Westbrook and with the free agent departure of sharpshooter Kevin Martin, hes had to carry the majority of the load to not only keep his team afloat but more importantly, at an elite level. It was a bittersweet end to the 2016 World Cup season last March for Olympic champion alpine skier Mikaela Shiffrin. While she won all five World Cup slalom races she started, a midseason break to nurse an injured knee left her short of the points needed to keep her world champion crown.But with a two-second lead (on average) in every race, its clear the 21-year-old is still top-of-the podium material. Shell start the 2017 World Cup season this weekend in Levi, Finland, with eyes on regaining her 2015 world championship titlle.dddddddddddd.One secret to Shiffrins success? A playlist that keeps her motivated and focused in training and competition alike. Before races, I normally find someplace quiet, close my eyes for 15 minutes and disappear in my music, Shiffrin says. I think about dancing or making turns on a never-ending ski run to the beat.Shiffrin shared her prerace playlist with us: Get more athlete playlists. ' ' '