JT Daniels signs with USC on Signing Day 2018

Five-star prospect JT Daniels signed his national letter of intent for USC on Signing Day 2018, giving the Trojans their quarterback of the future, just in time.

USC needed a quarterback in the class of 2018 and they’ve landed one, through less-than-conventional means.

JT Daniels put pen to paper on Wednesday, sending in his LOI to join the Trojans in 2018.

Could the future of USC Football be in his hands?

The Skinny

Daniels was named the Gatorade National Football Player of the Year as a junior in 2017. So how is he signing on to USC’s 2018 recruiting class?

The Mater Dei quarterback committed to the Trojans over the summer for the class of 2019, but a gap in USC’s QB recruiting and the expected departure of Sam Darnold opened a window for a special opportunity. Daniels could take classes online and graduate a year ahead of schedule, reclassifying into the class of 2019.

Now in that process, Daniels will join the Trojans in the fall.

Thanks to reclassification, Daniels is the No. 2 pro-style quarterback prospect for 2018, the No. 2 overall player in California and No. 16 in the country.

Where He Fits in 2018

USC has a vacancy at the starting quarterback position, so Daniels could be the most important addition in the class of 2018. First, he’ll have to win the starting job in a very short amount of time.

Unlike Matt Barkley, USC’s last true freshman starter at quarterback, Daniels won’t have the benefit of enrolling in the spring semester and competing throughout spring camp. Joining in the fall, he’ll enter the quarterback competition in media res, perhaps giving Matt Fink or Jack Sears time to take a commanding lead.

MORE SIGNING DAY: Tracking All of USC’s Class of 2018 Signings

Should Daniels win the job, he would be tasked with leading a USC team that will be looking to repeat as Pac-12 Champions. The

Still, if anyone could pull it off, it’s Daniels, who is regarded as one of the most impressive quarterback recruits in years.

High School Highlights

J.T. Daniels reminds us of…Andrew Luck

Comparing Daniels to a former Trojan is difficult. He’s more of a skilled passer coming out of high school than Mark Sanchez, despite not having the overwhelming arm strength. Yet he’s got better physical tools than Matt Barkley, not as hulking as Carson Palmer or Matt Leinart, nor a raw gunslinger as Sam Darnold. Instead, think of Daniels as a slightly smaller and quicker-developing version of former Stanford quarterback Andrew Luck. Accuracy, awareness and patience are his game much like Luck, while still being able to make high-level throws and escape the pocket when necessary despite not being a known scrambler.