If there was any lingering doubt about the Jaguars’ plans with the No.1 overall pick, they were apparently turned off on Sunday, 11 days before the 2021 NFL Draft started. The former Clemson quarterback Consensus No. 1 pick Trevor Lawrence thanked Jaguars fans for their early support via social media, and also said he and his wife would donate $ 20,000 to charities in Jacksonville.
In the post, Lawrence also alluded to the start of his NFL career with the Jaguars, which will have Urban Meyer as his first-year head coach. Meyer himself admitted the Jaguars were heading for Lawrence’s selection during an interview with NBC Sports Peter King late last month.
“Thank you Jaguars fans,” wrote Lawrence. via Twitter. “We really appreciate wedding gifts and donations to charities of our choice! In addition to the donations, Marissa and I will also be donating $ 20,000 to charities in Jacksonville. Thanks again, we hope to be part of your community soon.
Lawrence at 6-6 and 220 pounds is the highest-ranked player in the NFL Draft on the CBS Sports Prospect Ranks. 2018 national champion, Lawrence scored 108 total touchdowns in three years with the Tigers. In addition to compiling garish stats, Lawrence has won over 94% of his starts at Clemson, a stat that Meyer – a three-time national champion coach at college – clearly values.
“Trevor ticks all the boxes, you know?” Meyer said of Lawrence. “The common number one quality of every great player, not just a quarterback, is a competition freak. He’s 34-2. Won a national title as a true rookie – is a winner. seen up close and in person, compete. And then the character. I see it and I testify with my players, when the guys are drafted, a lot of people get… They have influences in their lives.
“Like, whether it’s social media, whether it’s other things that aren’t really about winning. Which I’m really happy about and I don’t mean surprised, but him, his agent, his family, they are focused on one thing. He wants to be the best version of himself for the National Football League, which is, well, that’s kinda refreshing. “
Lawrence sits atop a talented quarterback class that also includes Zach Wilson of BYU, Trevor Lawrence of Ohio State, Trey Lance of North Dakota State and Mac Jones of Alabama. Wilson should be ripped off by the Jets with the second overall pick. The 49ers are expected to select Fields or Jones with the third pick overall. Lance can go to the highest bidder if he’s on the board when the Falcons are on the clock with the No. 4 pick. The Panthers and Broncos, who currently hold the 8th and 9th picks respectively, are among the teams that could try to qualify for choice # 4.
While Wilson, Fields, Jones and Lance could end up in a variety of places, it seems almost certain that Lawrence will don a Jaguars cap on April 29. Lawrence will likely be the headliner of a major Jaguars draft class, as Jacksonville currently holds 10 picks in the upcoming draft. And while Meyer won’t take on former Buckeye (Fields) with the No.1 pick, CBS Sports Tyler Sullivan recently ranked Meyer by taking on former Ohio State running back Trey Sermon with the 106th pick overall. Lawrence watched Sermon scold for 254 all-purpose yards in the Buckeyes’ victory over Clemson in this year’s Sugar Bowl.
“Undrafted return James Robinson was one of the best finds of the 2020 season, but the Jacksonville brass have been forthright in their desire to add even more talent to this area of the roster this offseason,” wrote Sullivan. “With Sermon, the team gets a backstroke that has averaged over 7 yards per touchdown over the past two seasons that has the frame of an NFL backstroke. It was a bit inconsistent in college but dominated against Clemson in the playoffs last year. If he can take this postseason game to the pros, that’s all the backfield the Jags are putting in place. ”