JT Daniels to reclassify, join USC Football recruiting class for 2018

Five-star Mater Dei quarterback JT Daniels is set to reclassify into the class of 2018, joining USC Football a year ahead of schedule.

USC Football knew they needed a quarterback in 2018, but were having difficulty finding one. Now the Trojans no longer need to worry. Five-star 2019 quarterback JT Daniels has provided the solution, reclassifying into the class of 2018.

UPDATE: Daniels, who released a video on Twitter to announce his reclassification, is planning to enroll for the fall semester at USC, per Greg Biggins of 247Sports.

The decision to reclassify as well as enroll early is a game-changer. Whether or not quarterback Sam Darnold opts to leave for the NFL or stay for his redshirt junior season, the Trojans are now in the best possible position to succeed in 2018 and beyond.

For one, Daniels’ entrance solves a potential numbers issue. If Darnold were to leave, USC would only have two scholarship quarterbacks on the roster unless they brought in a quarterback for 2018.

More importantly, the head start for Daniels will either give him the chance to compete immediately for the open starting job at quarterback, should Darnold leave, or get in a year of preparation at USC ahead of a quarterback competition in 2019, should Darnold stay.

More from Reign of Troy

• Markese Stepp enters transfer portal intending to leave USC football
• USC football’s Alijah Vera-Tucker declares for NFL Draft
• USC football adds Xavion Alford as transfer from Texas
• USC Podcast: RoT Radio Ep. 396 on the Football Season’s Fallout
• Talanoa Hufanga named Pac-12 Defensive Player of the Year, USC football with five first-teamers

With former four-star prospects Matt Fink and Jack Sears already on campus, Daniels wouldn’t be able to walk into the starting job, but his exceptional talent should give him an equal shot at winning the competition, much like Matt Barkley managed in 2009.

Daniels, who committed to USC at the end of June over Stanford, Michigan and Washington, is as elite a quarterback prospect as they come.

Named the Gatorade Player of the Year for 2017, he threw for 4,123 yards and 52 touchdowns with just four interceptions, while also adding 556 rushing yards and nine touchdowns on the ground. He led Mater Dei to an undefeated season and a CIF State Championship with a blowout victory over De La Salle-Concord, positioning his team as No. 1 in the country, per the USA Today Sports Super 25 Computer Rankings.

TRENDING: Should USC’s Pro Prospects Stay or Go?

Though he will now be part of the 2018 recruiting cycle, Daniels ranked No. 1 among all quarterbacks for the class of 2019, per the 247Sports composite. He was also the No. 13 overall prospect in the nation and the No. 3 player from California.