Do Other Schools Have a Legitimate Shot at Signing Georgia Commit Jacob Eason?

"You don't go to a school for the coach. You go to a school for the school."

"Give me 'Things many not involved in the recruiting process say' for $100, Alex."

As much as that first sentence may make sense to some, let's be honest: Many recruits of today are all about playing for a coach they've bonded with. And again, let's be honest: What's wrong with wanting a comfortable working environment?

When the news hit that Mark Richt was fired as Georgia's head coach, it was understandable that current players and recruits alike were upset. Richt was someone Georgia commits were excited about calling head coach next season. As we all know, a large part of recruiting involves trust and building relationships between the staff and the targets. Richt knew how to build trust.

Ask Jacob Eason.

As the lone 5-star composite player in Georgia's 2016 recruiting class, Eason now has become a major priority for the current Georgia coaching staff to not only keep committed but also headline February's national signing day. It's no secret that Eason was a big fan of Richt as a coach and player.

The big question: Is Richt's departure enough for Georgia to keep Eason?

Let's remember, first and foremost, that Eason is expected to be an early enrollee. He's expected to graduate in December and join his college team in January in time for spring workouts.

Eason, from Lake Stevens, Washington, recently took a cross-country official visit to Florida—on a Tuesday and not waiting until a weekend. And with him now reportedly having interest in Miami, you have to wonder if Georgia is still the team to beat.

The good news for Georgia: Although Richt is gone, offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer is still there—for now. Back in the summer, Eason told Bleacher Report that he was "all in" with Schottenheimer's offensive philosophy.

"I'm excited to see what Coach Schottenheimer is going to do with me," he said following an Elite 11 regional event in the Oakland area. "I'm ready to be a Bulldog and to get down there and do good things."

Now Georgia will be on watch as Alabama defensive coordinator Kirby Smart is expected to be named new head coach following this weekend's SEC Championship Game pitting Alabama against Florida. Will Smart hire his own men? And if so, will Schottenheimer be replaced as offensive coordinator?

"

#GatorNation - RT this & give a HUGE welcome to Jacob Eason @skinnyqb10 #BestClassInTheNation pic.twitter.com/Cyc37Av4dm

— The Gator_Edits™ (@GatorsNoFlyZone) December 2, 2015"

Should that happen, don't be surprised if Eason backs out of his commitment. And in that case, Florida and Miami both are in excellent positions to score Eason's pledge. Neither Florida nor Miami have a 5-star commit in their respective classes, but landing and ultimately signing Eason would be huge—arguably more so for Miami than Florida.

Florida currently has two quarterback pledges in Feleipe Franks and Kyle Trask. Franks, the nation's fifth-ranked pro-style quarterback, committed to the Gators six days after decommitting from LSU. Having Franks, Trask and Eason, the nation's second-ranked pro-style quarterback, compete for starter's minutes would be a coach's dream.

This is also where Miami could have the advantage. The Hurricanes have sophomore Brad Kaaya at quarterback, and with a solid junior campaign, there could be talk of him testing the NFL waters. Miami has a pledge in Jack Allison, the nation's eighth-ranked pro-style quarterback, and having a less-jumbled group of quarterbacks to compete against could work in Eason's favor when looking for playing time.

The next few days will be critical for Georgia. The Bulldogs are hoping all of the speculation surrounding Eason will cease quickly. They still want him to not only be the future face of the offense but also someone who has potential to put up numbers similar to a former Georgia quarterback, Matthew Stafford.

The next few days also could be jackpot-status for a particular team in the Sunshine State. Let the recruiting games continue.

Damon Sayles is a National Recruiting Analyst for Bleacher Report. All player ratings are courtesy of 247Sports' composite ratings. Follow Damon via Twitter: @DamonSayles