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Pac-12 football 2018 season preview: Breakout stars, biggest games, predictions

By Charles Rahrig V

PALO ALTO, CA - NOVEMBER 18: Bryce Love #20 of the Stanford Cardinal runs with the ball against the California Golden Bears at Stanford Stadium on November 18, 2017 in Palo Alto, California. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)
PALO ALTO, CA - NOVEMBER 18: Bryce Love #20 of the Stanford Cardinal runs with the ball against the California Golden Bears at Stanford Stadium on November 18, 2017 in Palo Alto, California. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images) /
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SANTA ANA, CA – FEBRUARY 07: JT Daniels of the Mater Dei High School Monarchs signs his letter of intent at a National Signing Day ceremony at Mater Dei High School in Santa Ana, CA. (Photo by Brian Rothmuller/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
SANTA ANA, CA – FEBRUARY 07: JT Daniels of the Mater Dei High School Monarchs signs his letter of intent at a National Signing Day ceremony at Mater Dei High School in Santa Ana, CA. (Photo by Brian Rothmuller/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /

Freshman of the Year: JT Daniels, QB – USC

The freshman of the year comes down to who is going to make the biggest impact right off the bat. Of course, the first place people are going to look to when it comes to impact is the quarterback position.

It just happens to be the case in 2018, that a freshman quarterback should be leading the USC Trojans. Five-star recruit JT Daniels comes in as one of the most highly touted quarterback recruits and the program is hoping he can pick up where Sam Darnold left off.

He’s going to need time to reach the levels that Darnold helped take the program, but Daniels by all accounts has been nothing short of impressive since arriving. If he can put the Trojans in contention early, he’s easily the freshman of the year.

Delivering the Trojans to a spot in the Pac-12 Championship Game would be the icing on the cake. He could have a big opportunity early in the season if he is indeed the starter when USC takes the road and faces the Cardinal in Week 2.

There are up and downs when it comes to a freshman quarterback, but Daniels should have plenty of bright moments. The anticipation and hype surrounding him will have all eyes squarely on him this season.