QBs Fields, Lawrence finally set to meet
Georgians have crossed paths several times
Get familiar with the story. It’s one you’ll be hearing for a long time leading up to the 2021 NFL draft when Justin Fields and Trevor Lawrence figure to be the top two quarterback prospects and beyond into their pro careers.
The PlayStation Fiesta Bowl is just the first of many major intersections for the two Georgians, who grew up less than 20 miles apart in the northwest part of the state outside Atlanta. They never met in high school, playing in different divisions, but circled each other like two streaking comets on an inevitable collision course.
“It’s just crazy we had to come all the way out to Arizona to finally play each other,” Lawrence said. “We never had much time with football to really get close, but we’re friends. Obviously I want the best for him and definitely enjoyed watching his growth and what he’s done this year. It’s just being from Georgia, everyone thinks of us in the same sentence.”
Trevor and Justin. Or should it be Justin and Trevor. The debate rages on just like it did when they were in high school only now with all of college football watching as will be the case in the Fiesta Bowl on Saturday. One will lead his team to the College Football Playoff Championship Game; the other settling for a 13-1 sophomore season.
FIEST BOWL 2007
Lawrence already with title
Lawrence already is a national champion and has never lost a game in college (28 straight wins). At 6-foot-6, he has the size of what once was the NFL prototype quarterback but also some of today’s dual-threat mobility. Fields also is big at 6-3 and physical and the more adept runner but with a 40-1 touchdown-to-interception passing ratio.
“They’re both really good,” Ohio State defensive coordinator Greg Mattison said. “You know every day when you go against Justin, you’re going against a great player. You can’t be lazy, you can’t do things you aren’t supposed to do or he’s going to get you running it or throwing it. Lawrence is the same way.
“Sometimes you don’t go against a great quarterback (in practice) then you get into the game and go this guy is really good. We see it every day so it does prepare us.”
Fields started out in college at Georgia, backing up Jake Fromm in 2018. With Fromm returning, Fields opted to transfer and, with legal help, received a waiver from the NCAA allowing him to be immediately eligible at Ohio State instead of sitting out a year.
Overnight seemingly, the Buckeyes replaced Dwayne Haskins, third in 2018 Heisman Trophy voting, was another Heisman finalist, Fields finishing third behind LSU’s Joe Burrow, a transfer from Ohio State, and Oklahoma’s Jalen Hurts.
Lawrence was squeezed out as a Heisman finalist — he finished seventh in voting — but not for lack of production particularly over the last eight games.
Fields was Heisman finalist
Fields is No. 4 nationally in passing efficiency, No. 27 in passing yards and No. 36 in total offense. Lawrence in those same categories is No. 7, 22 and 26.
“You can’t argue anything those other guys have done,” Lawrence said. “For me to say I should have been in there instead of them (as a Heisman finalist) is diminishing what they’ve done. I believe I’m one of the best players in college football. My play will speak for itself, and I don’t really have to worry about any awards.”
Certainly Fields wants what Lawrence already has — a championship ring — just like in high school when Lawrence won two state titles with Class 4A Cartersville High School.
At 5A Harrison High School in Kennesaw, Fields was a two-year starter was the kind of numbers to earn Mr. Georgia Football as a senior but fell short of a state title.
The two met in ninth grade, attended some camps together and trained with the same personal coach, Ron Veal, who played quarterback at Arizona from 198790. Some of the workouts with Veal included both star pupils.
“You’re not really competing, but at the same time you are,” Fields said. “That’s the way I was going about it. I just think it makes me throw better and try harder.”
Lawrence said: “We were both pretty chill. It wasn’t really competitive. We just worked on little things. It wasn’t an intense throwing competition.”
The first Bowl Championship Series national title game staged outside of the existing bowls was awarded to Arizona to be played at then 1-year-old State Farm Stadium capping the 2006 college season.
A week before the big show between No. 1-ranked Ohio State and No. 2 Florida, the Fiesta Bowl set a high bar for an opening act with Boise State beating Oklahoma 43-42 in overtime to complete an undefeated season.
The BCS game couldn’t match up to what today is ranked by the Football Bowl Association as the second greatest bowl game unless you were a Gators fan.
Ohio State’s Ted Ginn Jr. returned the opening kickoff 93 yards for a touchdown only to suffer an ankle injury during the ensuing celebration. That turn of events was symbolic of the Buckeyes’ night with Florida going ahead 34-14 at halftime to make the second half largely academic.
The final was 41-14 with Gators quarterback Chris Leak throwing for 213 yards to get the best of Ohio State QB/Heisman Trophy winner Troy Smith, who went 4of-14 for 35 yards with an interception.
Smith accepted his share of the responsibility.
“I am the one guy out there that can pretty much control everything,” he said. “And I didn’t do a well enough job in controlling what was going on.”