Jags won’t be clever if they don’t pick Trevor

WHEN American college football’s National Championship takes place in the early hours of tomorrow morning, it will do so without the sport’s biggest star – Trevor Lawrence.

You might not recognise his name now, but Lawrence (above) is a sensation over in America... and has been for the past two years.

The Clemson Tigers quarterback is the brightest prospect to come from the college ranks in a generation.

Experts are comparing his NFL potential to greats such as John Elway or Peyton Manning.

Even before last year’s draft, Lawrence was locked in to be the No.1 pick in 2021.

Some fans even started the 2020 season hoping their respective teams would ‘Tank for Trevor’.

That meant finishing bottom of this year’s rankings to have the first selection in the draft – thus guaranteeing his services.

However, Clemson’s loss in the Sugar Bowl – college football’s equivalent to a semi-final – to the Ohio State Buckeyes has potentially changed matters.

Now some have called for the Jacksonville Jaguars, who have the first pick in this year’s draft, to pass up the opportunity to take Lawrence and instead draft the quarterback who got the better of him that day – Justin Fields (inset).

Even Jacksonville favourite and presenter on Channel 5’s Monday Night Football coverage, Maurice JonesDrew tweeted that he was now questioning the selection of Lawrence.

Fields played exceptionally well and was slated to be drafted in the top 12 picks prior to the game.

But if he is on the winning side against an exceptional Alabama team in the National Championship, the calls for him to be drafted first will grow even louder.

I would never pretend to know more about American football than my friend MJD, but I believe he has it wrong if he thinks the Jags should pass on Lawrence.

Lawrence had only lost once before in 35 games.

His individual stats are mind-boggling, the most stand-out being his 90 touchdown passes! He should be considered the best college quarterback ever.

This situation reminds me of the 2012 draft. Missing out on Lawrence would be like missing out on Andrew Luck.

Everyone expected Luck to come into the NFL and be a generational talent and so it proved.

But back in 2012 there was another quarterback in the mix to be selected first, the more mobile and exciting Robert Griffin III.

Griffin III was ultimately drafted second that year.

And while both experienced early success, there is no doubt Luck turned out to be the better pick.

Fields may have flashed in that one game.

But if I were the Jaguars, I wouldn’t be looking the Trevor Lawrence gift horse in the mouth!