It seems clear whom Urban Meyer wants as the Jaguars’ quarterback

With Urban Meyer seemingly closing in to become the head coach of the Jacksonville Jaguars, according to multiple reports, there figures to be little doubt whom the former Florida and Ohio State head coach will want as his quarterback.

Among the reasons the Jacksonville job appeals to Meyer is the fact they have the No. 1 overall pick in the 2021 NFL Draft, which means he’ll almost certainly have a chance to coach Clemson quarterback Trevor Lawrence.

Meyer has not hidden his admiration of Lawrence, who is an elite enough prospect that Jets fans were upset when they won their first game of the year against the Rams, which cost them the top pick.

As ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler tweeted Wednesday, “Meyer has long been enamored with Trevor Lawrence.”

Prior to last year’s college football playoff, Meyer called Lawrence “the best quarterback in college football, ever.”

And this season, while still working as a Fox Sports college football analyst, Meyer put Lawrence ahead of Ohio State quarterback Justin Fields.

“I had Fields and Trevor right next to each other,” Meyer said. “I put Trevor Lawrence for one reason, he played one more year. That was it. The one thing I’ll say about Justin Fields, because I’m very close to the situation, any concerns about him being a throwing quarterback are gone now. He’s developed, he’s outstanding. I hear the guys talk. I talk to Coach [Ryan] Day, and obviously the quarterback coach I’m very close to. Comparisons to [former Ohio State QB] Dwayne Haskins are everywhere now as far as throwing the football, which — that’s an elite thrower.”

The mere mention of Haskins raises red flags after he flopped as the No. 15 overall pick in 2019. He lasted less than two years in Washington, where he was cut in late December.

Lawrence, meanwhile, finished second in Heisman Trophy voting in his final season at Clemson, which was briefly interrupted by a COVID-19 diagnosis. He played 10 games and his season ended with a loss to Fields’ Buckeyes in the Sugar Bowl, when Fields actually outperformed Lawrence.

Now, Meyer could be in a position to choose between the two.