In the end, JT Daniels was back where he started.

Daniels, the former Mater Dei High star who was USC’s starting quarterback as a true freshman last season, was named the starter for the Trojans’ season opener on Aug. 31 against Fresno State, Coach Clay Helton announced Tuesday.

Daniels won what Helton had called an open competition for the starting job. Helton said freshman Kedon Slovis will be No. 2 on the depth chart, followed by redshirt junior Matt Fink and redshirt sophomore Jack Sears, who completed 71.4 percent of his passes (20-of-28) for 235 yards and two TDs in a start against Arizona State last season.

Helton said the decision was based on the quarterbacks’ performances over 30 practices, 15 in the spring and 15 in preseason camp, and that Daniels’ consistency gave him the edge. He added that the decision was made Tuesday to allow Daniels and Slovis to get the majority of the practice repetitions over the next 10 days.

“We came into the process saying it’s not going to be about age or who’s been on the field,” Helton said. “It’s going to be about how people play and how people compete on a day to day basis, and how they execute the offense. JT did that.

“The competition was fierce. There were guys that had brilliant days. You’re talking about four quarterbacks that can play anywhere. To have those four guys compete and to see JT do what he did was very impressive. We’re very fortunate to have the others here. You know how it is – you’re one play away from having to go to the next guy.”

Sears’ start last season came as a result of a concussion to Daniels and a rib injury to Fink. Daniels last season became just the second true freshman to start a season opener at quarterback for the Trojans. He came to USC after graduating a full year early from Mater Dei, where he helped lead a Monarchs team that went 15-0 in 2017, won the California CIF-SS Division 1 title and the California State Open Division championship. He was named 2017 Gatorade National Player of the Year, among a plethora of other postseason honors.

Helton praised all four quarterbacks for their play and the way they conducted themselves during the competition for the starting job.

“I’ve never been in this situation … to have those four quality quarterbacks on one team is very rare,” he said. “To watch them compete in a first-class manner, to not be afraid of competition is special. The way they handled it … obviously, there’s disappointment (for some). But the way they handled it today and the way they came back out here today and came to work and were such great teammates speaks volumes to the men that each and every one of them are.”