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College Quarterbacks Replacing 2018 NFL First Rounders

By Talon Graff

ARLINGTON, TX - APRIL 26: NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell walks past a video board displaying an image of Baker Mayfield of Oklahoma after he was picked #1 overall by the Cleveland Browns during the first round of the 2018 NFL Draft at AT&T Stadium on April 26, 2018 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)
ARLINGTON, TX - APRIL 26: NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell walks past a video board displaying an image of Baker Mayfield of Oklahoma after he was picked #1 overall by the Cleveland Browns during the first round of the 2018 NFL Draft at AT&T Stadium on April 26, 2018 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images) /
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SOUTH BEND, IN – OCTOBER 21: Matt Fink #19 of the USC Trojans looks to pass against the Notre Dame Fighting Irish in the third quarter of a game at Notre Dame Stadium on October 21, 2017 in South Bend, Indiana. Notre Dame won 49-14. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images)
SOUTH BEND, IN – OCTOBER 21: Matt Fink #19 of the USC Trojans looks to pass against the Notre Dame Fighting Irish in the third quarter of a game at Notre Dame Stadium on October 21, 2017 in South Bend, Indiana. Notre Dame won 49-14. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images) /

USC Trojans – Matt Fink RS Sophomore, Jack Sears Sophomore, J.T. Daniels Freshman

The replacement for Sam Darnold could be a tight race between three very capable but unproven quarterbacks.

Matt Fink enters 2018 as a redshirt sophomore with only nine passing attempts in his career. Fink is the only one out of the three combatants that has any on-field game experience which could give him a slight edge heading into fall. Fink appears to be a slightly stronger runner than Jack Sears.

Speaking of Sears, he redshirted last year and is now competing for his spot as the starter of the Trojans. Based on the film from his high school career, Sears is a versatile quarterback and was utilized in a lot of ways at San Clemente High School. He ran multiple RPO plays and was utilized primarily as a passer but ran a good chunk of the time and clearly has the ability to inflict damage as a runner. He was even a primary receiver for a handful of trick plays.

The third quarterback in this equation has never even suited up for the Trojans in any sort of capacity.

J.T. Daniels, a recent high school graduate of perennial powerhouse Mater Dei, will officially join the team this fall. Daniels is more of a pocket passer than the either Fink or Sears but can scramble if he needs to. He is also being joined by his high school teammate and fellow five-star prospect, wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown.

These two already have an obvious chemistry and could feed off of each other which could make it hard for Clay Helton and his staff to keep either one off the field.

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