PARADISE VALLEY, Ariz. – Clemson quarterback Trevor Lawrence and Ohio State’s Justin Fields grew up nearly 20 miles apart in the northwest Atlanta suburbs. They’ve worked out with the same private quarterback coach, Ron Veal, since junior high school. And they’ve taken part in quarterback camps and showcases across the country. What began as a duel for rankings and scholarship offers will inevitably evolve into competition for the top spot in the 2021 NFL draft.
But for all of their geographic and competitive overlay, Lawrence and Fields have never actually faced each other in a football game.