When Alabama meets Clemson for the College Football Playoff National Championship, it will be a battle between two of the finest young quarterback prospects in the last 25 years.
Clemson’s Trevor Lawrence is a blue chip prospect that had scouts across the nation salivating with his 6-foot-5, 215-pound frame coming out of high school. He’s had an outstanding freshman season and has a chance to become the second freshman quarterback in history to start and win a CFB title game.
Lawrence is looking to achieve the freshman fame that Alabama’s sophomore starter Tua Tagovailoa achieved last season when he came off the bench to lead Alabama to a 26-23 overtime victory over Georgia. Both quarterbacks will be the favorites to win the Heisman Trophy in 2019.
Tonight will be the first time Alabama sophomore Tua Tagovailoa and Clemson freshman Trevor Lawrence share the same field with a championship on the line.
It might not be the last: https://t.co/1bdZ9yjTeb pic.twitter.com/LiJI2Sjm01
— The Sporting News (@sportingnews) January 7, 2019
Here’s three facts about the two young signal callers that will dominate headlines as they move up the ladder for seasons to come.
- Trevor Lawrence broke Deshaun Watson’s Georgia state records in high school
Lawrence shattered records at Cartersville (Ga.) High School over his four years. He broke Watson’s state records for passing yards and touchdowns and threw for 13,902 yards and 161 touchdowns while leading Cartersville to consecutive Class AAAA state championships in 2015 and 2016. He finished his senior season in 2017 with 41 touchdown passes and just 1 interception.
2. He’s very religious
https://twitter.com/Trevorlawrencee/status/1017585850903859200
3. His Girlfriend Marissa Mowry Is Also A Collegiate Athlete
Congrats to this girl on committing to Anderson University today to play soccer! I’m excited to see what’s in store for you 😘❤️ pic.twitter.com/w5poP6GIqM
— Trevor Lawrence (@Trevorlawrencee) February 8, 2018
- Tua Tagovailoa’s Swift Rise To Fame
Tua was a Top 40 prospect coming out of high school, but his rise to stardom was overnight. He didn’t have a wikipedia page before being inserted into the National Championship game. Now he’s probably the most popular person in the state of Alabama and he has an entire island behind him.
Tua Tagovailoa is bringing 400+ family members to the National Championship, per @JoeGoodmanJr 🎟 pic.twitter.com/04X956wMeS
— Bleacher Report CFB (@BR_CFB) January 4, 2019
2. Patrick Mahomes Jr. With The Improvisation
While Trevor Lawrence is probably more Ben Roethlisberger like, Tua’s game can be compared to Patrick Mahomes Jr., particularly because his dad taught him how to throw with his left hand but he’s naturally a right hander. This will help him in the NFL as we’ve seen Mahomes Jr. improvise and throw the football with both hands depending on the play and situation.
Tua Tagovailoa had more TDs than incompletions 😳 pic.twitter.com/yWmeCACnqt
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) December 30, 2018
3. Tag Brothers Legacy At Alabama
Tua’s brother, Taulia Tagovailoa, has committed to play for the Crimson Tide in 2019. Nick Saban keeps it in the family and continues this tradition of Hawaiian QBs leading the Crimson Tide program.
#BREAKING: Thompson HS quarterback Taulia Tagovailoa (@tauliaa12), younger brother of #Alabama QB Tua Tagovailoa, has committed to play for the Tide! #RollTide @WARRIORNATION20 @coachmarkf @Tuaamann_ @AL7AFootball @AndrewJBone @TideSports #ALpreps pic.twitter.com/VIRV3FLNub
— Simone Eli (@SimoneEli_TV) April 21, 2018
