Chase Brice was the second quarterback the Tigers signed. 2017 Quarterback Room The 2017 QB room featured a three-way battle for the starting position between Kelly Bryant, Zerrick Cooper and Hunter … So, what is the difference from 2019 to 2020? You hear it in the stands when it comes out of his hands. After spending the last two seasons behind Deshaun Watson, Kelly Bryant will now get his shot to lead Clemson football in 2017. Bryant might be the early favorite to start at quarterback by default because of his experience, but he’ll need to improve significantly as a passer to keep the job. (Notre Dame’s DeShone Kizer and North Carolina’s Mitch Trubisky are considered the other top prospects.) However, earning the backup role is still within reach, and watching the battle unfold between him and Cooper is probably the biggest roster development to keep an eye on. Just going back to the basics and taking whatever the defense is giving me.". Coach [Brandon] Streeter and I talked a lot about it in the offseason and have just been messing around with it, and I think it's working well. For now, only time will tell as to which quarterback will separate himself from the pack. He’s tall, strong-armed and can fit throws into tight windows. “Obviously he’s an incredible athlete and has good size,” said a veteran NFL scout. Against Wake Forest, Lawrence completed 22-of-28 passes for 351 yards and a touchdown while also adding two rushing touchdowns. All Rights Reserved. But he is absolutely gifted when he throws the football. However, as time passes, either Cooper or Johnson could take advantage of any opportunity, as they become more comfortable running the offense and Bryant is unable to maintain separation. According to Lawrence, it is his mindset. Well, in the Tigers' last 10 games, Lawrence has thrown 26 touchdown passes against zero interceptions. Dan Hope, daniel.hope@independentmail.com. Bryant is one of only three quarterbacks on Clemson’s roster with game experience. Just special. Junior quarterback Kelly Bryant is … Will he continue to be a star in the NFL? Despite the 45–40 Clemson defeat, Watson established himself as the most tantalizing quarterback prospect in college football. "Getting a lot of reps is the main thing. Lawrence’s selection represents his first ACC weekly honor of the season and the eighth of his career. It was not only his stance that Lawrence went to work on during the Tigers' offseason. “I think that plays a role in a kid’s psyche, [that] if he runs and blows out his knee that’s $9 million out of his pocket.”, The coach did add that he considers Watson an exponentially better quarterback prospect than Louisville QB Lamar Jackson, who won the Heisman Trophy. The MVP of this year’s U.S. Army All-American Bowl already looks like a college-ready passer. He produced the first game of 350-plus passing yards and multiple rushing touchdowns by a Clemson player since Tajh Boyd against NC State in 2012. Watson isn’t expected to go at least until the end of the first round, which would mean a team likes him enough that it’d want to stash him behind an established player and develop him. In two short years, Deshaun Watson left his mark as arguably one of the program’s greatest players in history, taking the Tigers to the College Football Playoff in consecutive seasons and bringing the school its second national championship. Watson stands tall in the pocket and whips the ball around like Ben Roethlisberger.”, Three matchups that could decide the national championship, There’s also plenty who are skeptical of Watson being a high-end NFL quarterback. Last season saw Clemson quarterback Trevor Lawrence struggle with interceptions and poor decisions in the first seven games. “He showed what he’s capable of doing against Alabama last year. Kelly Bryant remains the leader to win Clemson’s starting quarterback job, but multiple players will get an opportunity early on. A Wren High School product, Bryant is a big quarterback with intriguing athletic potential, but he has yet to demonstrate much ability throwing the ball downfield. As a junior in 2016, he was The Atlanta Journal-Constitution player of the year after completing 250 of 406 passes for 3,904 yards and 51 touchdowns. Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. That change, along with getting the added reps in before the Tigers started camp, mean that opposing defenses could be in for a very long season. None. Clemson Basketball: 2014 Scholarship Roster. Welcome to our new and improved comments, which are for subscribers only. He’s not quite the athlete Bryant is, but still mobile enough to keep the quarterback running element with the Tigers offense.