Trevor Lawrence has dealt with high expectations since high school. The five-star recruit became an All-American and national champion at Clemson before becoming a Pro Bowler in the NFL. Now there’s a growing belief that he’ll lead the Jacksonville Jaguars to the Lombardi Trophy sooner rather than later.
With some in the national media picking the Jaguars to win the AFC this season and make their first Super Bowl this year, Lawrence is altogether unbothered by the hype.
“I don’t really care, to be honest,” Lawrence told reporters Wednesday. “I think it’s more dangerous to have people praising you than to not have any expectations, but with the group that we have, it doesn’t worry me at all. We know how to work. We come in to work every day with the same mindset.
“Everyone always asks about expectations and how you deal with them and you don’t really deal with them, you just don’t listen to them. What does it matter what this guy said over here? He’s not in our locker room, he’s not on our team.”
Lawrence, 23, finished the 2022 season with 25 touchdowns and eight interceptions. After ending the year with 15 touchdowns and only two picks in the Jaguars’ last nine regular season games, the third-year quarterback is entering 2023 as a dark horse candidate for MVP honors.
He’s adamant none of that matters, though.
“They’re not real, it’s not a real thing,” Lawrence said of the expectations. “We have to go out and play every Sunday and put our best foot forward. You can’t do that if you’re listening to what other people are saying.”
The Jaguars will kick off their 2023 regular season Sunday against the Indianapolis Colts as a five-point road favorite.
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