Sports are a truly funny thing. One second you could be expecting to be a second-stringer for the foreseeable future, then in the next second you are the starting quarterback for the team, both now and in the future. That’s exactly what happened to USC quarterback Kedon Slovis.
Though he was trained by NFL Hall of Fame quarterback Kurt Warner, he thought he was coming to USC to sit behind blue-chip prospect J.T. Daniels, who had been named the starter his true freshman year. Instead Slovis is on a different journey, and it’s one that may take him to the promised land.
J.T. Daniels may not have been perfect as a freshman. He showed a lot of impatience and had plenty of problems turning the ball over, but he knew how to find his playmakers and wasn’t afraid to sling the rock all over the field. He trusted his receivers and they rewarded him time and again with astonishing plays. Then, however, Daniels hurt his ACL and suddenly found himself on the outside looking in. Daniels was a consummate teammate along with fellow future transfer Jack Sears.
When Slovis got his opportunity, he never looked back. The USC offense just looked different with him in charge. Kurt Warner has clearly taught him the subtle nuances of the position. He has drilled the finer points of footwork and timing into Slovis, and it shows. The patience, lack of mistakes, and understanding of where his targets are supposed to be at all times create a large part of what made the Slovis era easy to anticipate. I lost track of the number of times I said J.T. Daniels lost his job permanently when I was watching Slovis play last year. I even said when speaking with Derrik Klassen of Football Outsiders that Daniels had tons of improvement to make if he wanted to stave off competition.
USC QB J.T. Daniels need a little bit of work before next season. To talk about what needs improvement, what's working, & what coaches are and aren't doing to help him, I enlisted @QBKlass of Football Outsiders: https://t.co/9r1gw1Md27
— Thanos (@FightOnTwist) February 2, 2019
It was apparent as soon as it was happening that Daniels was facing an uphill battle against the more polished Slovis. It was evident during games and on film. You could tell Slovis had that “it” factor so many prized USC quarterbacks before him have displayed. You know it when you see it. Slovis brings it with him and players around him respond.
Should Slovis get to play this spring, I have little doubt that he’s going to take the next steps and become a more vocal leader. He will be a savage competitor on the field. PFF already sees Slovis as the best quarterback in the Pac-12 and one of the 10 best in the entire nation.
Man, it's going to be impossible for J.T. Daniels to win his job back if Slovis keeps playing like this
— Thanos (@FightOnTwist) September 8, 2019
Not only is Slovis sitting on a launching pad ready to rocket to stardom, he is surrounded by an extraordinary amount of talent at receiver and running back to help him get there. This upcoming season, whenever it happens, is as much about Slovis taking the next step in his formal football education as it is about competing for titles.
Pac-12 titles are great, but should Slovis fall short yet still take those next major steps in his development, folks will be more than pleased. Great quarterbacking is one of the few things Trojan fans will be happy to watch develop, as long as they really are developing and the process isn’t fool’s gold.
Kedon Slovis is the conductor of his own life and he has been writing his own ballad ever since he came to USC. He’s a magnificent example of what happens to those who put their head down, work hard, and do everything they can to make sure that when their number is called, they are ready to deliver for their teammates and the coaches.
Right now, Slovis may as well be Salome dancing the Dance of the Seven Veils — his feet and arms have carried him to the top of the Pac-12 mountain. All that’s left for him to do is take that next step and deliver his Magnum Opus.