Trevor Lawrence on Urban Meyer not naming him starter just yet: ‘That’s a good way to run a team’

The Jacksonville Jaguars selected former Clemson quarterback Trevor Lawrence with the No. 1 overall pick in the 2021 NFL Draft. He’s seen as the prospective savior of the franchise, but he hasn’t even been tabbed as the official starter just yet. 

First-year head coach Urban Meyer and his staff have said multiple times through training camp and the preseason that they haven’t named a starting quarterback. Except when the Jaguars took the field in both preseason games they have played, it’s been Lawrence starting — not Gardner Minshew or CJ Beathard or Jake Luton. Recently, Lawrence sat down with ESPN’s Jeff Darlington, who asked him point-blank why Meyer hasn’t named him the starter. 

“I just think it’s all about competition,” Lawrence responded. “Especially I know coming from college like that was the same way once I came into Clemson. Kelly Bryant was the returning starter, was quarterback the year before, had a good season and coming into that it’s like — you don’t just walk in and get handed things, and I just think that’s a good way to run an organization, a team, whatever. People have to earn whatever they’re given.”

When asked last week whether Lawrence would be battling Minshew for the quarterback job through the Jaguars’ third and final preseason game, Meyer responded saying he’s aiming for an earlier decision: “In theory, it could,” he said, “but I would rather not.” 

Lawrence became one of college football‘s most dominant quarterbacks during his time at Clemson. He passed for 10,098 yards, 90 touchdowns and 17 interceptions in three seasons, and became the first quarterback ever to win three ACC Championship games. Meyer being hesitant to officially name Lawrence the starter is puzzling to say the least, but the rookie quarterback says that he’s come to love his new head coach’s straightforwardness. 

“I say the one thing that’s really awesome about him is clear communication,” said Lawrence. “You know what’s expected. He tells you very upfront. Honest.”