Column: Jordan Love has a golden opportunity in Green Bay
Jordan Love is no stranger to being overlooked. Coming out of Liberty High School in Bakersfield, Calf. in 2016, the two-star quarterback received just a single FBS offer from Utah State, where he committed to play.
After redshirting his first year as an Aggie, Love was quick to show what he could do. He earned the starting job midway through 2017 and began to take the Mountain West by storm, throwing for 1,631 yards and eight touchdowns in his first season. By the end of his Aggie career in 2019, the quarterback had led USU to three straight bowl appearances while compiling a program record of 9,003 yards in total offense. He also finished with 60 touchdowns and 8,600 passing yards, both good for second best in program history.
These achievements, added with the natural ability he exhibited, helped Love be drafted No. 26 in the 2020 NFL draft to the Green Bay Packers.
Fast forward to 2021, Love, who is considered by some unready to be an NFL quarterback, has a chance to surprise everyone by making a name for himself in his second year in the league. Much like he did his second year of college.
With nine-time pro bowl quarterback Aaron Rodgers wanting out of Green Bay and skipping a mandatory minicamp two weeks ago, Love is being thrust into the spotlight well ahead of schedule, taking reps as “QB1” during Packer practices.
Barring Rodgers ending his holdout and returning to the team, all signs point to Love – who was a third string rookie active in zero games last season – becoming the starting quarterback of one of the most popular and successful franchises in the NFL this fall.
At the Packer’s three day mini camp from June 8-10, it was clear Love was running the show.
According to Rob Demovsky of ESPN, he took the majority of the quarterback reps, including 26 of the 31 available 11-on-11 snaps on the 10th. He finished the week completing 40 of 70 (57.1 percent) of pass attempts. Green Bay head coach Matt Lafleur told ESPN, “we installed our offense and kind of threw everything at him.”
It’s an opportunity that frankly didn’t seem realistic just months ago. Love was beat out by Tim Boyle for the backup job in Green Bay last season. He was considered by many of being “a bust” of a draft pick. Now he is being dubbed the man to carry the Packer quarterback legacy forward.
“Obviously, we think the world of Jordan and where he’s going to grow and develop,” Green Bay GM Brian Gutekunst told reporters in April. “We have a lot of confidence in his talents, in his work ethic and where he’s going to go.”
Hall of Famer Brett Farve told TMZ the Packers need to prepare for Love to be the starter.
Why the Packers consider it imminent Love will be Rodgers’ replacement over anyone else – including newly signed Blake Bortles, who has seven years of NFL experience – isn’t entirely clear. Maybe his skill level has dramatically improved after one season in the NFL. Or maybe the franchise is putting trust in their first round draft pick based off of what he was able to do in college.
Either way it’s a golden opportunity for Love. And one many wouldn’t envy.
Last summer, Green Bay traded up to draft Love, gambling to get a QB for the future, rather than draft a wide receiver to help their immediate championship aspirations.
The move surprised and offended Rodgers, which sparked tensions between the seasoned veteran and the front office. Since the 2020 season ended, the situation escalated and Rodgers disassociated himself with the team.
With no Rodgers for the time being, and Love inadvertently considered a culprit of the whole situation, a tremendous amount of pressure is being put on the Bakersfield native to deliver in what would be his first time playing in an NFL game, if he is the starting quarterback in the Packer’s opener on Sept. 12 against the Saints.
But from all reports out of Green Bay, Love is embracing the challenge.
On May 27, running back Aaron Jones told ESPN, “You can tell he’s just a lot more comfortable out there, even from communicating in the huddle to the command of the huddle to just everything…He’s going to continue to grow, and I’m happy to be here working with him.”
The Packers leading receiver, four time pro-bowler Davante Adams, told journalists on June 7, “He’s locked in and I can see it.”
Davante Adams on Jordan Love: “He’s locked in and I can see it.”
Adams super supportive of Love. #Packers
— Lily Zhao (@LilySZhao) June 8, 2021
Love himself spoke to the media on June 10. He said, “My mindset this whole offseason has been to get ready…I was drafted here to play QB, so I’ll definitely be ready Week one.”
Sure, he won’t come in and perform as well as Rodgers. Gutekunst admitted to reporters that Love, “Has a long way to go.” But the belief is he is fully capable.
As things stand, there is a clear path for Love to be the starter this season. He has a chance to go from an unheralded backup to the leader of a championship contending team. Or Rodgers ends his holdout and comes back to Green Bay this summer, terminating Love’s aspirations of being a starter this season.
Either way, it’s clear the Packer organization believes strongly in the Utah State product. If he continues his development and stays healthy, Love may become the next great quarterback to come out of Green Bay whenever he ultimately gets his shot.
Follow Jacob Nielson on Twitter @jacobnielson12
Contact the Statesman Sports desk at sports@usustatesman.com