ASU Football: USC to lean on third-string quarterback

After losing starting quarterback JT Daniels to a concussion and backup Matt Fink to a rib injury, USC will use the third quarterback on their depth chart against ASU football.

USC head coach Clay Helton will look to prepare third-string quarterback Jack Sears to lead the offense in absence of JT Daniels and Matt Fink. Daniels is currently in concussion protocol and his status for Saturday remains an unknown.

While the team does not know who will be at quarterback against the Sun Devils, they have cast their focus to the readiness of Sears to step in as he will be paramount to the Trojans success.

Sears may be the third-string quarterback on the depth chart, but he does have experience playing at a high level, most notably in his high school career. Sears began his career at San Clemente High School in California as a wide receiver while also backing up former Trojan Sam Darnold, who was drafted third overall in the 2018 NFL Draft by the New York Jets.

The now third-string quarterback was a swiss army knife for San Clemente as Sears did a variety of different duties during the 2014 season. The sophomore finished the year passing for 215 yards on 34 attempts, along with a total of 289 rushing yards on 26 carries and 12 receptions for 178 yards and a total of six touchdowns on the year.

After the departure of Darnold, Sears took over as the team’s starting quarterback during the 2015 season. During his junior campaign, Sears completed over 70 percent of his passes, finishing the year with 2,697 passing yards along with 37 touchdown passes to only two interceptions.

More from Devils in Detail

Sears was not only was effective through the air, but he was also a vital part of the running game en route to 862 rushing yards on 112 attempts to go along with nine rushing touchdowns. The offensive numbers earned Sears a variety of honors including selections to the Cal-Hi Sports All-State Junior second team, All-CIF Southwest Division first team and was selected as the All-Sea View League Offensive MVP.

The accolades continued to pour in during Sears’ senior year at San Clemente as he finished the 2016 season with just over 2,600 passing yards with 37 touchdowns and six interceptions while also increasing his rushing total to 1,135 yards alongside nine touchdowns on the ground.

Sears made the 2016 Prep Star All-American Dream Team, Tacoma News Tribune Western 100, Orange County Register Fab 15 second team, Cal-Hi Sports All-State first team, USA Today All-California second team, and was selected as the All-CIF Division 2 Offensive Player of the Year, Orange County Register All-Orange County first team and All-South Coast League Offensive Player of the Year.

While collecting the flurry of awards, Sears also led San Clemente to a CIF State 1-A Championship and a CIF Southern Section Division 2 title.

Sears will most likely attempt his first pass at the collegiate level on Saturday against ASU, but he possesses the experience and talent needed to lead the Trojans to victory over the Sun Devils. If Sears is not needed in the game against Arizona State, the Trojans will lean back on Daniels.

Daniels has thrown for 1,629 yards during his freshman campaign and has been effective at the quarterback position after being selected as the 2017 Gatorade National Player of the Year during his high school career.

If Sears goes down with an injury and Daniels is not able to play, the Trojans have quarterback options in walk-ons in Holden Thomas and Brandon Perdue, who joined the team late due to his time at the New Mexico Military Institute.

Next. ASU Football: The departures of Sturges, Smith creates hole in backfield. dark

USC also possesses players on the roster with experience at the quarterback position from high school including defensive back Ajene Harris and wide receivers Randal Grimes and Devon Williams.

Home/ASU Football