There was hope that USC quarterback J.T. Daniels had just suffered a severe knee sprain in the Trojans’ 31-23 victory over Fresno State. Those hopes were shattered Sunday morning when an MRI on his knee revealed he’d torn his ACL and meniscus. He will not play again in 2019.
Before getting injured, Daniels was 25-of-34 for 215 yards, a touchdown and a pick in less than a half. It was the kind of debut, if he’d played on, that could have spurred some early Heisman Trophy buzz. Now, he’ll only get to watch that end-of-season ceremony while rehabbing.
USC QB JT Daniels is out for the season with a torn ACL and meniscus, according to @AdamJMaya. pic.twitter.com/FEaHt9v159
— FOX College Football (@CFBONFOX) September 1, 2019
As a freshman, Daniels all but carried a 5-7 2018 squad on his back, completing 59.5 percent of his passes for 2,672 yards, 14 touchdowns and 10 interceptions.
While the team wished for the best, head coach Clay Helton didn’t seem optimistic after the game, even after a reportedly negative X-ray in the locker room.
“(The injury was) gut wrenching,” Helton told reporters Saturday night. “You see a kid that’s poured so much into the game and into this team and him becoming better, physically and mentally, as a quarterback. Said a prayer as soon as I saw it. I’m hoping that we get the best results tomorrow.”
They did not get those results.
USC will now turn to back up Kedon Slovis, a disciple of NFL Hall of Fame quarterback Kurt Warner. Warner was Slovis’ high school offensive coordinator in Scottsdale, Ariz. The freshman was a three-star recruit, but surprised everybody when he took over the No. 2 spot on the QB depth chart this offseason at USC. In relief of the injured Daniels, Slovis went 6-of-8 for 57 yards.
USC's QB, JT Daniels, hurt his right knee and had to be helped off the field. His back-up now is a freshman, Kedon Slovis because his former back-up, Jack Sears entered the transfer portal.
— Desmond Howard (@DesmondHoward) September 1, 2019
Warner himself got his NFL job in much the same way. Trent Green went down with a torn ACL in a preseason game for the 1999 St. Louis Rams. Warner then took over and the rest is history.
The Trojans now must hope that Warner-inspired history can repeat itself.
H/T: LA Times
