How’d USC end up relying on a kid?
The anticipation is understandable. Los Angeles is a city of stars and USC might have the next one, a potential once-in-ageneration quarterback who could be starting as a freshman in the fall. The possibility speaks to the promise of JT Daniels, whom recruiting experts describe in the most superlative of terms.
Strong armed. Mobile. Intelligent. Instinctive. Daniels also is 18 years old. In the history of USC football, the Trojans have started a true freshman quarterback in only 18 games, 12 of them by Matt Barkley in 2009.
In the history of college football, only two freshman quarterbacks have led their teams to national champions. And Daniels is barely even that, as he completed high school in only three years.
USC is the school of Carson Palmer and Sam Darnold. However gifted Daniels might be, he shouldn’t be in a position in which the Trojans have to count on him. Except that could be the case. The two quarterbacks with whom Daniels will compete for the starting position, redshirt sophomore Matt Fink and redshirt freshman Jack Sears, didn’t do enough to separate themselves from one another in spring practice.
How did this happen?
Cole Winn, the top high school pitcher in Colorado in 2017, moved to Anaheim in September after his father needed to be closer to job clients. He enrolled at Orange Lutheran High, but it wasn’t until January when he realized how comfortable he was.
“It was an awesome winter wearing shorts almost every day,” he said. “Playing baseball in January was amazing. It was incredible being out on the field and not having to worry about whether you’re going to have time to hit indoors.”
Winn proved himself to be the best pitcher in California this season, going 8-2 with an 0.20 earned-run average. He has been selected The Times’ high school player of the year.
Orange Lutheran coach Eric Borba called Winn “the best I’ve ever seen.”
With a 94-mph fastball and an equally impressive curveball, Winn was pretty much unbeatable once he got into a groove. The first inning did present problems on occasions, mostly because he would be so fired up. He would write messages in his hat to remind him to slow down and take deep breaths.
“I just get too hyped before the game,” he said. “Too much energy, too much adrenaline. And sometimes I don’t realize I’m going too fast and need to slow down. I think that’s what happens in the second and third innings when I get into a groove.”
Winn also contributed as a hitter, but his pitching was extraordinary. The senior right-hander struck out 120 batters in 70 innings, walked 11 and gave up two earned runs. He helped the Lancers win the National High School Invitational in North Carolina and the Trinity League championship. In his only two playoff appearances, he threw seven innings in a 3-0 victory over Moorpark and five innings in a 4-0 victory over Gahr.
“I just worked harder and harder to get better after every start,” he said.
He was selected No. 15 overall by the Texas Rangers on the first day of the amateur draft.
Winn never was much of a skier in Colorado (he played basketball on the weekends). And he hasn’t learned how to surf in California. But he won’t forget his senior year in sunny Southern California.
“It’s been nothing but good experiences,” he said.