E.J. Warner wasn’t a highly-recruited prospect out of Brophy Prep in Phoenix, Arizona. This despite the fact that he finished his high-school career with 3,483 passing yards and 31 touchdown passes, leading Brophy into the 6A state playoffs.
Oh, and despite the fact that Warner’s father is Hall of Fame quarterback Kurt Warner.
But after his true freshman debut against Lafayette last week, in which he completed 14 of 18 passes for 173 yards, two touchdowns, and no interceptions, the younger Warner will get his first start against Rutgers this Saturday, per ESPN’s Pete Thamel.
If you look at this fade ball touchdown in Warner’s college debut, and you’re familiar with Kurt Warner’s play… well, it looks pretty familiar. The number 13, the quick frontside fake, and the ball thrown with touch and arc.
Warner replaced Rams quarterback Trent Green in the 1999 preseason after Green suffered a torn ACL, and he never looked back. Perhaps E.J. Warner, who replaced Temple starting quarterback D’Wan Mathis in the second quarter of the Lafayette game, has a similar career arc as well.
