Jacob Eason’s high school coach, Tom Tri, knows what everyone in the Southeast wants to know about his 5-star quarterback.

Tri was wondering, too. So he asked the nation’s No. 1 quarterback this week about his interest level in UGA and Florida. Are the two schools neck-and-neck? Is it close?

Tri asked his star quarterback that question before Eason got a chance for his first face-to-face meeting with new UGA coach Kirby Smart. That’s the last time he has had the chance to speak with Eason before he took an official visit to Washington.

The answer probably will sit well with fans who like Varsity chilli dogs and barking on Saturdays.

“Jacob was under the assumption that if things go well with Coach Smart and he kinda gets an idea of who the new offensive coordinator might be that he’s committed to Georgia still,” Tri said. “Florida is a backup plan or an alternative plan. He’s just trying to keep his backup plan open.”

Tri said Eason has not wavered from UGA since his sophomore year. That commitment survived offensive coordinator Mike Bobo leaving to be the head coach at Colorado State. He was good with that change when Brian Schottenheimer came in to coach the quarterbacks. That still seems to be the case with Mark Richt now at Miami.

“It has still been Bulldog No. 1,” Tri said. “So until I hear differently that’s what I am going to tell you. He’s still committed but still trying to keep his options open in case there’s something that happens which doesn’t work well for him.”

Tri said he still feels UGA is Eason’s No. 1 choice.

“I really do not see that changing,” he said.

Florida is still expected to come for an in-home visit on Thursday. Tri said he expects Eason to make his decision by Monday or Tuesday of next week.

DawgNation correspondent Nate Gettleman contributed to this report

Jeff Sentell covers UGA football and UGA recruiting for AJC.com and The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Follow him on Twitter for the latest on who’s on their way to play Between the Hedges.

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