![Freshman J.T. Daniels Named Starting QB for No. 15 USC](http://townsquare.media/site/531/files/2018/08/GettyImages-848096834.jpg?w=980&q=75)
Freshman J.T. Daniels Named Starting QB for No. 15 USC
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Freshman J.T. Daniels has won the competition to start at quarterback for No. 15 Southern California.
Coach Clay Helton announced his decision in a news release Sunday night.
Daniels will be the first true freshman to start at quarterback for USC since Matt Barkley in 2009.
The 18-year-old Daniels graduated from Mater Dei High School one full year early to enroll at USC. Daniels then claimed the job held by Sam Darnold last season after a month-long, three-way competition with redshirt freshman Jack Sears and sophomore Matt Fink.
Helton didn't make his decision until watching a mock game Saturday in which all three quarterbacks got a chance to impress the coaches.
The Trojans open the regular season at home against UNLV on Saturday, followed by consecutive road trips to No. 13 Stanford and No. 23 Texas.
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