Video: J.T. Daniels, Dorian Thompson-Robinson highlights
Highly-recruited signal callers committed to be cross-town rivals in college.One quarterback is as accomplished as any junior quarterback who has played high school football.
The other has made one varsity start.
But make no mistake, the matchup between
Mater Dei (Santa Ana, Calif.) junior
J.T. Daniels and
Bishop Gorman (Las Vegas, Nev.) senior
Dorian Thompson-Robinson could be the most critical on the field when the nation's top two teams meet Friday at the Santa Ana Bowl.
Daniels (6-foot-1, 202 pounds), a USC commit, is the No. 1 quarterback recruit from the Class of 2019 after racking up 7,891 passing yards and 100 touchdowns (against just 10 interceptions) in his first two seasons for the nation's No. 1 team. He's on pace to break about every passing record in the quarterback-rich history of Southern California.
"I must admit, sometimes I have to sit back and watch the kid and say ‘wow,' " said 29-year Mater Dei head coach Bruce Rollinson.
Thompson-Robinson (6-2, 200), a UCLA commit, was ranked the fourth-best dual threat quarterback in the country before even making a start after sitting behind reigning National Player of the Year Tate Martell. Thompson-Robinson made an auspicious debut on Friday, throwing for 284 yards and accounting for five touchdowns in a 35-23 comeback win over then-No. 13 DeMatha (Hyattsville, Md.).
"He played great but it didn't surprise me at all," Gorman coach Kenny Sanchez said. "He's the complete package. Big arm, fast, accurate, poised, hard-working."
"Those are two great quarterbacks. Ultimately, it could easily come down to them."
