Trevor Lawrence named finalist for Gatorade national POTY

Lawrence is the lone senior among the national player of the year finalists, after a season with 41 touchdowns to one interception.

by TigerNet Staff - Thu Dec 14 12:31:52 GMT-05:00 2017

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Trevor Lawrence - Quarterback
TigerNet: (5.00)

Height: 6-6 Weight: 208 Hometown: Cartersville, GA (Cartersville HS) Class: 2018

ESPN:

#2 Overall, #1 QB-PP, #2 GA

Rivals:

#1 Overall, #1 QB, #1 GA

24/7:

#1 Overall, #1 PRO, #1 GA

Clemson five-star quarterback commit Trevor Lawrence has been named a finalist for Gatorade national player of the year.

Lawrence, a two-time Georgia Gatorade player of the year, is in a group of three with Quavaris Crouch (junior running back from Charlotte, NC) and JT Daniels (junior quarterback from Santa Ana, Calif.).

The 6-foot-6, 215-pound senior quarterback passed for 3,296 yards and 41 touchdowns this past season, leading the Purple Hurricanes to an 11-1 record and the second round of the Class AAAA state tournament. The state’s returning Gatorade Football Player of the Year, Lawrence completed 177 of 256 passes and was intercepted just once. A three-time First Team All-State honoree, he broke the state career passing records for both yards (13,908) and touchdowns (161) and has been selected to play in the 2018 U.S. Army All-American Bowl. Lawrence is ranked as the nation’s No. 1 recruit in the Class of 2018 by Rivals.com and 247Sports.com.

A devoted member of his church community and the Fellowship of Christian Athletes, Lawrence has volunteered locally on behalf of his school’s peer-leadership program and Challenger Football youth team. Lawrence has maintained a 4.06 GPA in the classroom.

“Lawrence is a kid who is calm under pressure, never gets rattled and makes all the plays,” said Doyle Kelley, head coach at Cedartown High after Lawrence was named Georgia's top player. “It’s unbelievable the throws that he makes. You have to see him to believe it; he’s just a phenomenal football player.”

Fans can cast predictions for the winner on Twitter using #GatoradePOY.

The winner announcement is expected in the coming weeks.

More on Crouch (via Gatorade)

The 6-foot-2, 230-pound junior running back and linebacker had led the Rams to a 13-1 record and a berth in the Class 4A state championship game at the time of his selection. Crouch has rushed for 3,142 yards and 31 touchdowns on 287 carries through 14 games, also recording 42 tackles and 14 sacks on defense. A First Team All State selection, he also earned Conference Player of the Year and All-Charlotte Observer First Team honors.

A devoted member of his church community and the Fellowship of Christian Athletes, Crouch has volunteered as a peer mentor in his school. “Quavaris Crouch has to be one of the most imposing running backs I’ve seen in a long time,” said Travis Witherspoon, head coach at Berry High. “He has tremendous balance and if you let him get to the second level there aren’t many players who can catch him in a foot race.”

Crouch has maintained a 3.31 GPA in the classroom. He will begin his senior year of high school next fall.

More on JT Daniels (via Gatorade)

The state’s returning Gatorade Player of the Year, the 6-foot-1, 205-pound junior quarterback had led the Monarchs to a 14-0 record and a berth in the State Open Division championship game against De La Salle High at the time of his selection. Ranked as the nation’s No. 1 recruit in the Class of 2019 by Rivals.com, Daniels completed 242-of-335 passes for 3,890 yards and 49 touchdowns against just four interceptions through 14 games. He also rushed for 513 yards and seven scores on 57 carries. Entering the final game of his junior year, Daniels has passed for 11,781 yards and 149 touchdowns in his prep football career.

Daniels has volunteered as part of Mater Dei’s Monarchs for Marines program supporting the troops and families of the First Marine Division stationed at nearby Camp Pendleton. He has also donated his time locally delivering care backpacks to the homeless and as a youth football coach. “JT Daniels has been an absolute beast this year,” said Pat Harlow, head coach of JSerra Catholic High. “I have not seen a player look so calm and collected in a long time. He has taken his game to another level this year. I have been very impressed with his play overall.”

Daniels has maintained a weighted 4.18 GPA in the classroom. He has verbally committed to play football on scholarship at the University of Southern California in the fall of 2019.