Clemson quarterback Trevor Lawrence is “ready to take on whatever challenge” the NFL presents to him once he enters the league.
The best quarterback prospect this side of Peyton Manning or Andrew Luck is ready to take on whatever challenge comes his way at the big-boy level.
Trevor Lawrence hopped on “The Dan Patrick Show” Wednesday to provide a no-fear update on how he’s feeling about his future. Naturally, the New York Jets surfaced in the discussion.
"I'm really just ready to take on whatever challenge it is." –@TrevorLawrencee on how prepared he is to join an NFL team coming off a losing season… aka the Jets.
For Trevor's full appearance: https://t.co/Qlink2TVQH pic.twitter.com/Md2EXAdCyF
— Dan Patrick Show (@dpshow) December 16, 2020
Patrick’s Jet-related question was blunt: “How could you not let the situation with the Jets affect you?”
“I think I’m ready … just being here at Clemson, my journey has taught me a lot,” Lawrence said. “I’ve grown up a lot (in) the past two years, (and) I’m really just ready to take on whatever challenge it is and just have the opportunity.”
Lawrence, 21, remains a general manager’s dream. Standing 6-foot-6, the kid has the size, the athleticism, and the head to make an immediate impact in the NFL.
The youngster who burst on the scene by winning the National Championship as a freshman has thrown for 2,431 yards and 20 touchdowns to just three interceptions in eight games this season. He’s also rushed for 121 yards and six scores.
When Patrick asked the kid if he’s watched the Jets this season, Lawrence didn’t hesitate to provide a ho-hum answer nobody could pick apart successfully.
“I haven’t really, honestly,” Lawrence answered. ” … Honestly, I know some of the stuff I say sounds cliche, but just to have the opportunity to go somewhere, help someone rebuild, if that’s what it is, or whatever, just win, that’s something I love doing. I think that’s what I’m best at, (which) is winning.
“Just to have that chance—obviously, some places will be more of a challenge than others, but I think I’m up for it and that will get here when it’s here.”
The Jets would be that challenge. At 0-13 and no win in sight, the team’s horrendous drafting and player development over the last decade has put them in a terrible hole Joe Douglas is attacking with required patience.
Although it’s true, that in the hard salary cap world of the NFL, teams can turn fortunes around quickly, the Jets’ overall narrative at the moment presents a tough challenge for an incoming quarterback.
When asked if he was officially leaving after the College Football Playoff, Lawrence said it’s “likely,” but then introduced an example of a former teammate experiencing two senior nights in Death Valley.
“I don’t want to completely shut any door,” Lawrence said. “I’m graduating, so coach Swinney let me go ahead. But Christian Wilkins, he did it twice. He ran down the hill twice, two years in a row. So, you never know.”
