Road to 2021 Draft starts at Fiesta Bowl for Justin Fields, Trevor Lawrence

Justin Fields and Trevor Lawrence are set to face off in the Fiesta Bowl, where their legacies and draft stock for 2021 begin.

The College Football Playoff is already a big stage for young players, where the stars shine bright and a champion is crowned. In this year’s Fiesta Bowl, we are in for a wild ride. The undefeated Clemson Tigers will face off with the undefeated Ohio State Buckeyes, with the winner moving on to the National Championship.

As if the stage wasn’t big enough, this Fiesta Bowl begins a journey for two young players, a pair of quarterbacks whose legacies in college football, along with their draft stock for 2021, will be intertwined from the moment the ball is kicked off.

We are of course talking about Ohio State’s Justin Fields and Clemson’s Trevor Lawrence, two quarterbacks who were highly sought after recruits out of high school. They have each had a different journey so far, but their paths have led them to this game.

Lawrence came into Clemson as a freshman backup, but after four weeks, was clearly the better quarterback and took over for Kelly Bryant. Lawrence played outstanding and led the Tigers to a 44-16 win over the Crimson Tide in last year’s National Championship.

The expectations were sky-high coming into his sophomore season, and while he started off struggling (14 TDs, 8 INTs in his first seven games) he has been hot down the stretch, with 20 touchdowns and zero picks in his last six.

Fields has had a much different path. He started out at Georgia and was given very little playing time due to Jake Fromm having a secure hold on the starting job. After the 2018 season, Fields sought out a transfer and ended up at Ohio State, where he quickly earned the starting gig.

It has been an amazing season for Fields, as he has thrown for 2,953 yards, 40 touchdowns, and just one interception. He also scored 10 touchdowns on the ground and ended up in New York for the Heisman Trophy ceremony.

Their journeys have been a treat to watch so far, but more the important talk begins after the Fiesta Bowl, the 2021 NFL Draft.

Yes, the 2020 NFL Draft hasn’t even happened yet, but Lawrence and Fields are the top two names at quarterback for 2021, and the debate will rage on about who is the better prospect.

Lawrence has it all. He has the arm strength, and he throws with great accuracy to all levels of the field, especially deep in-breaking routes and deep outs, two of the tougher throws on the field. He maneuvers through the pocket with ease and can make money throws by staying calm amidst the madness in front of him. You also see the ability to throw with anticipation, something most quarterbacks need to learn more at the next level. Don’t sleep on his athleticism either.

Fields also has plenty of arm strength. While he may not throw the ropes Lawrence does, Fields shows impeccable touch to the intermediate level of the field and on deep balls. He can play out of structure and make things happen when things break down in front of him. Fields is also a good athlete who can make plays with his legs. His efficiency is off the charts and he limits turnovers very well.

The analysis will run much deeper than that in the coming months heading into the 2020 season, and if both declare, throughout the 2021 draft process. One thing is clear though, scouts and GMs will come back to this game, the 2019 semifinal, when Fields and Lawrence squared off, against top defenses in an undefeated heavyweight bout.

Enjoy the Fiesta Bowl and remember these two quarterbacks. They might both be better than any in the 2020 class.