True freshmen lead way for ASU, USC
In the spring of 2018, Arizona State offensive coordinator Rob Likens was still in the market for a quarterback.
He thought he had two players close to committing to the Sun Devils but he was looking for one more.
He was also high on Desert Mountain product Kedon Slovis, who had drawn a dozen or so Division I offers but most of them from lower profile schools.
Likens had offered the local but hadn’t yet set up time to visit him in person.
He never had that chance because days later Slovis committed to Pac-12 foe USC.
The Sun Devils ended up in good shape though. Not only did they land Joey Yellen and Ethan Long, they won a competitive recruiting battle for Jayden Daniels, the No. 2 ranked dual-threat quarterback in the country and the jewel of a strong 2019 recruiting class.
USC (5-4, 4-2 in Pac-12 play) will be trekking to Tempe for a 1:30 p.m. showdown Saturday against the Sun Devils (5-3, 2-3) and the battle of freshmen quarterbacks is among the intriguing subplots.
There are a half a dozen true freshmen starting at that position for a Power 5 team and this game will feature two of them with the California kid leading the way for ASU and the Arizona native igniting the offense for the California school.
“I really liked him and I’m glad to see him playing so well. Obviously, I hope he doesn’t play too well this week,” Likens laughed. “But I really like what he has done there.”
The two are alike in many ways yet different in others.
Daniels, out of Cajon High School in San Bernardino, won a competitive battle with Yellen, Long and the since-departed Dillon Sterling-Cole for the starting spot.
The Trojans also had a four-way battle brewing between Slovis, returning starter J.T. Daniels, Matt Fink and Jack Sears, who has left the program.
Daniels was announced as the starter a week before the opener but went down with a torn ACL in that game against Fresno State, opening the door for Slovis.
The two have similar numbers. Daniels, 6-foot-3 and a slender 175 pounds, has completed 135 of his 223 passes (60.5%) for 1,902 yards while Slovis, a 6-2, 200-pounder, has connected on 165 of 241 tries (68.5%) for 1,889 yards.
Daniels has 11 touchdowns throws and has had just two passes intercepted, while Slovis has 16 touchdown tosses but eight intercepted passes.
Most noteworthy on Daniels’ still growing resume are three game-winning drives, two of which came in the closing seconds.
Likens and head coach Herm Edwards have complimented his poise which was on display in the comefrom-behind victories.
“He’s not emotional. He’s just not. Sometimes emotions can definitely be taken negatively and he’s not like that,” Likens said of his starter. “He’s the same guy. He’s very consistent. When you’re around him it’s just, he has that ‘it’ factor that you believe things are going to be OK. That’s the thing. It’s hard to put a finger on. It’s not words that he says. It’s really just how he carries himself every day. He never gets too down and he never gets too up. I think that’s the special quality that he has.”
Daniels has been pleased with his performance but sees room for growth.
He’s more mobile than Slovis, with the ability to scramble and extend plays when the need arises. He has 237 yards rushing, the highlight being a 17yard touchdown run with 34 seconds left that pushed ASU past Washington State, 38-34.
“I have been able to take care of the ball. That’s what I am most proud of,” he said. “I have missed some throws though so I know I can do better when it comes to that part of the game.”
Slovis, a prototypical pocket passer, has also demonstrated a calm demeanor being thrust into a high-profile role for a program that has churned out successful prosat that position.
He passed for a season high of 407 yards in a 35-31 win over Colorado.