Jaguars 2021 NFL Draft: Trevor Lawrence talks about approach to football

The 2021 NFL Draft is less than a week away and while the Jacksonville Jaguars are putting the finishing touches on their draft board, quarterback Trevor Lawrence, who recently made waves because of his approach to football, joined ESPN’s First Take and talked with analyst Stephen A. Smith about getting ready for the draft.

Lawrence told Smith he’s excited about the process and has been working for three years to get to this point. He says that even with all the “different hoops to jump through”, this is a pretty special moment, not just for him but for his family, his coaches, and everyone that has been part of the journey.

The Clemson standout said there’s a chance others can misinterpret his words but he’s sure of what he wants in life and just like most people, he has objectives, dreams. Moreover, he pointed out that even though he loves football, it doesn’t define him as a person.

"This has been my dream forever and I really believe no one works harder than me, so I think you can have both. I think people want to be one or the other but I think for me, that’s been one of the healthiest things is realizing that this isn’t the only thing in the world."

The Jacksonville Jaguars are getting a hard worker in Trevor Lawerence.

Later in the conversation with Smith, Lawrence noted something very important. He said that it doesn’t really matter if he says the “right things”, in the end, he will have to perform, and he’s right. He could hype himself up and talk about how he breaths and lives football but there are hundreds of players that do precisely that and end up falling short.

Keep in mind the former Tiger doesn’t have any other interests at this moment, football is his focus right now and he’s taking a realistic approach to it. Do you remember offensive tackle Danny Watkins, the 23rd overall pick in 2011? He flamed out in pros and retired after just three years in the league because his heart wasn’t into it and wanted to pursue a career as a firefighter. That’s not Lawrence’s case.

Based on Lawrence’s demeanor and comments, it’s unlikely he’s constantly thinking about the prospect of becoming a bust. Simply, he’s sufficiently self-aware to know that not panning out in the NFL is a possibility, not the main one but a possibility nonetheless, and that’s a healthy approach. While he’s confident in his skills, he’s not delusional or thinks too highly of himself. Isn’t that kind of balanced mindset the one you want from the man leading your team?

The Jaguars should feel confident about the level of maturity Lawrence has shown ahead of the draft, and if this Jacksonville team becomes relevant, it will be in part because of their projected quarterback of the future and his approach to football.