QB Pass eager to follow Heisman winner Jackson

LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Jawon Pass has plenty of confidence. The Louisville quarterback will need all of it for both his major challenges this season.

First there’s succeeding 2016 Heisman Trophy winner Lamar Jackson. Pass has spent two seasons preparing for that.

Then there’s showing what he’s learned from that tutorial in his first collegiate start on Saturday, facing reigning national champion Alabama, the preseason No. 1 in the AP Top 25.

“I wouldn’t change it if I could,” Pass said of facing the powerhouse Crimson Tide. “It’s a great opportunity for us as a team to go out and get a win.

“I think I’d be nervous no matter who we’d play, just having a certain feeling in my first start. But I’ll be all right. I won’t be that nervous,” he said.

How the passer nicknamed “Puma” fills the offensive void left by the departure of the best player in program history is a longterm key for Louisville.

Nobody expects the 6-foot-4, 231-pound Pass to replicate the dual-threat dominance of Jackson, who broke multiple school and Atlantic Coast Conference records while compiling 13,175 yards of total offense and 119 touchdowns. That’s not saying Pass isn’t capable of doing damage with his arm and feet, or that expectations are lowered.

He just wants to define himself.

“I don’t think about living up to anyone or anything like that,” Pass added. “I just try to play football and have fun. I’m calm under pressure, smart and just try to put my teammates in a better position to make plays.”

Louisville coach Bobby Petrino believes Pass might make the Cardinals offense better because of his grasp of playing in the pocket and chemistry with surrounding players. And because he’s had two years to prepare.