Trey Lance: A Deep Dive into College Statistics and Football Journey

Trey Aubrey Lance, born on May 9, 2000, is an American professional football quarterback currently playing for the Los Angeles Chargers of the National Football League (NFL). His path to the NFL was paved with impressive college performances, particularly during his time with the North Dakota State Bison. This article explores Lance's college career, statistics, and the journey that led him to professional football.

Early Life and High School Career

Lance's football journey began in youth football, where he played running back. He transitioned to quarterback in middle school and later attended Marshall High School, where he quickly became recognized as a top quarterback prospect in Minnesota. Initially, Lance had aspirations to play for the University of Minnesota and was prepared to commit after a recruiting event in February 2017. However, he ultimately chose to play for North Dakota State University (NDSU).

College Career at North Dakota State

2018 Season: Early Exposure

Lance's initial exposure to college football came in 2018. He appeared in two games, attempting just one pass. Although his playing time was limited, NDSU secured two national championships in 2018 and 2019. He played in North Dakota State's win over South Dakota on Oct. 27, 2018. North Dakota State was 19-0 in the games in which Trey Lance appeared.

2019 Season: A Breakout Year

The 2019 season marked Lance's emergence as a star quarterback. As a freshman, he became the first NDSU freshman to start a season opener at quarterback. He led the Bison to an undefeated regular season and the FCS national title, earning the Walter Payton and Jerry Rice Awards. Lance completed 192 of 287 passes for 2,786 yards, 28 touchdowns, and zero interceptions. He also demonstrated his rushing ability, gaining 1,100 yards and scoring 14 touchdowns on the ground. His outstanding performance led to him being named the championship's most outstanding player.

2020 Season: Pandemic Impact and NFL Draft Preparation

Lance was set to start again in 2020. However, the season was postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. He made only one appearance that season, playing against Central Arkansas in October 2020, where NDSU secured a 39-28 victory. Following this game, Lance chose to forgo the spring season and declared for the NFL draft.

College Statistics and Records

While North Dakota State has a history of producing excellent quarterbacks, Lance's achievements stand out. He holds several notable records and ranks high in various statistical categories:

Passing Statistics

Career Completion Percentage: Lance boasts a high career completion percentage.
Career Average Yards/Pass: His average yards per pass is another impressive statistic.
Completion Percentage in a Season: Lance's completion percentage in the 2019 season was exceptional.
Highest Percentage of Passes Completed in a Game: He also holds a high record for the percentage of passes completed in a single game.
Single-Game Passing Yards: His single-game career-high in passing yards came against Western Illinois in 2019, when he threw for 313 yards, which is tied for eighth in program history.

Rushing Statistics

Rushing Yards: Lance's rushing ability added another dimension to his game, making him a dual-threat quarterback.
2020 FCS Championship Game: Based on total rushing yards, Lance's 2020 FCS Championship Game performance against James Madison takes the cake, when he ran 30 times for 166 yards and a score.

Comparison to Other FCS Quarterbacks

Steve McNair: A Legendary Comparison

When discussing great FCS quarterbacks, Steve McNair's name often comes up. McNair, who played at Alcorn State, had a remarkable career that included passing and rushing prowess. Both McNair and Lance are large quarterbacks with big frames. McNair played four complete seasons at Alcorn State, winning almost 70 percent of his games. Meanwhile, Lance played one full season, going undefeated over 16 games.

Individual Season Success

Steve McNair (1994): McNair's best is undoubtedly his 1994 season. Many of his records set during his career came during this season. He passed for career highs in yards and touchdowns, surpassing his previous highs by over 2,000 yards and 25 touchdowns. His individual success led to team success to, leading Alcorn State to a share of the SWAC title. His earned SWAC Player of the Year honors for the fourth-consecutive year.
Trey Lance (2019): Lance only has one option for his best season as his only full season was in 2019. He began the season as the first North Dakota State freshman to start a season-opener at quarterback. Lance gained over 2,700 passing yards and 1,100 rushing yards as he led North Dakota State to an undefeated regular season and the FCS national title, taking home championship most outstanding player honors.

Single-Game Performances

Steve McNair: The premier game of them all occurred on Oct. Against Southern, McNair passed for a season-high 587 yards, adding 62 rushing yards while scoring five total touchdowns. McNair's 649 total yards set a single-game SWAC and FCS record and made him the NCAA's all-time leader in offensive yards. In the final six minutes, the lead changed four times as McNair had to rally his Alcorn State troops from behind twice in the last four minutes of the game. The result? Alcorn State walked away victorious 41-37.
Trey Lance: Lance has multiple options from his 2019 season that could be chosen as his best game. The common choice may be his FCS Championship performance that won him Most Outstanding Player honors. Lance made his first start against Butler at Target Field in Minneapolis. Lance racked up 301 yards of total offense and six touchdowns in North Dakota State's 57-10 win.

Career Achievements and Records

Steve McNair: Won two SWAC Championships during his career, winning Alcorn State's first SWAC title since 1984 in 1992, later adding the 1994 title.
Trey Lance: Led North Dakota State to an undefeated season and FCS National Championship in 2019.

McNair's four-year career is arguably the best of any player at any position in FCS history. Since McNair and Lance never played each other and we're operating in the realm of hypotheticals, you can only project what Lance's career may have been had he stayed all four years.

NFL Career

2021 NFL Draft and San Francisco 49ers

Ahead of the 2021 NFL draft, analysts predicted Lance or Alabama quarterback Mac Jones would be taken third overall by the San Francisco 49ers. The 49ers traded up with the Miami Dolphins in exchange for their first-round picks in 2021, 2022, and 2023 and their third-round pick in 2022. The 49ers selected Lance, making him their first first-round quarterback since Alex Smith in 2005 and the second-highest drafted FCS player after fellow NDSU quarterback Carson Wentz. Considered a top quarterback prospect in the draft, Lance was one of five quarterbacks taken in the first round.

Lance began the 2021 season as the second-string quarterback behind incumbent starter Jimmy Garoppolo but made his NFL debut in Week 1 against the Detroit Lions. During a Week 4 28-21 loss to the Seattle Seahawks, Lance saw his first significant playing time when he relieved an injured Garoppolo in the second half. Lance completed nine of 18 passes for 157 yards and two touchdowns and rushed seven times for 41 yards and a two-point conversion. Due to Garoppolo's injury, Lance was named the starter for the following week's game against the Arizona Cardinals. Lance completed 15-of-29 passes for 192 yards and an interception while also rushing 16 times for 89 yards in the 17-10 road loss. Following the game, it was announced Lance suffered a sprained knee. The injury made him unavailable for the Week 7 matchup against the Indianapolis Colts, with Nate Sudfeld replacing Lance as the second option behind a returning Garoppolo. Lance returned as Garoppolo's backup during the next week's 33-22 victory over the Chicago Bears. Lance did not take field again until the 49ers' final drive against the Jacksonville Jaguars in Week 11. Lance remained the second-string quarterback for the next five weeks until Garoppolo suffered a thumb injury during a 20-17 road loss to the Tennessee Titans.

Dallas Cowboys

On May 1, 2024, the Cowboys declined the fifth-year option on Lance's contract, making him a free agent after the 2024 season. During the preseason, Lance saw the most action at quarterback in place of starter Dak Prescott and backup Cooper Rush. After Prescott suffered a season-ending injury in Week 9, Lance was elevated to the backup role behind Rush. He made his Cowboys regular season debut the following week against the Philadelphia Eagles, replacing an ineffective Rush in the fourth quarter. Lance made his team debut in the Pro Football Hall of Fame Game against the Detroit Lions.

Los Angeles Chargers

On April 4, 2025, Lance agreed to terms with the Los Angeles Chargers.

Read also: McBride's Rise to the NFL

tags: #trey #lance #college #stats