Video: J.T. Daniels Ultimate HighlightsHighly-touted junior has thrown 100 touchdown passes in just two seasons. One of high school football's top quarterbacks is staying home.
Five-star prospect
J.T. Daniels of
Mater Dei (Santa Ana, Calif.) committed to USC on Sunday afternoon via Twitter.
The country's No. 1 pro-style quarterback in the Class of 2019 chose the Trojans over 17 other offers, including finalists Michigan, Stanford and Washington.
"It checks all the boxes and the university feels like home," Daniels said. "It felt right in my heart."
The 2016 MaxPreps Sophomore Player of the Year led the Monarchs to a 13-0 record last fall before losing to St. John Bosco (Bellflower) in the Southern Section Division I championship game.
The 6-foot-1, 202-pounder completed a remarkable 75 percent of his passes (315 of 423) for 4,849 yards and 67 touchdowns against just six interceptions. The Mater Dei offense averaged 476 yards and 57 points per game. He more than doubled his impressive freshman total of 33 touchdown passes.
Largely due to the return of Daniels, Mater Dei earned the preseason national No. 1 ranking from MaxPreps heading into this fall. The Monarchs have three games lined up
against Top 25 teams and they play in one of the toughest leagues in the
country — the Trinity League.
Daniels will follow in the footsteps of another Orange County product, 2017 Heisman Trophy favorite
Sam Darnold, who starred at nearby
San Clemente (Calif.) before attending USC.
Former Mater Dei quarterbacks Matt Leinart and Matt Barkley also starred at USC.
J.T. Daniels could be the most decorated Southern California high school quarterback in history by the time he leaves Mater Dei.
Photo by Louis Lopez
