By Will Vandervort.

By Will Vandervort

CLEMSON — Clemson offensive coordinator Chad Morris says quarterback Tajh Boyd will benefit greatly by coming back to Clemson next season. Boyd, along with all draft eligible players, submitted his paperwork earlier this month to the NFL to see where he might fall in next April’s NFL Draft.

Morris admitted after practice Thursday that he had no idea what the grade for his starting quarterback might be, but he doesn’t believe Boyd will be a first-round pick, at least not this year anyway.

“I don’t know where he is projected and all of that, but I think he is a first-round guy, but I don’t know if it is this year,” Morris said. “I think it will be next year. I think he can definitely improve his draft stock (by coming back). Those are things he has to talk to his family about, and he and I will talk about it, too.”

Boyd, who was named a first-team All-American by the Football Coaches Association earlier this month, made significant improvement under Morris’ second year of tutelage. The redshirt junior was first in the nation in points responsible for (21.8 per game), fourth in the nation in passing efficiency (168.5),  fourth in touchdown passes (34) and ninth in total offense with 336.8 yards per contest.

He has completed 251 of 377 passes for 3,550 yards and 34 touchdowns this year. He also rushed for nine touchdowns giving the native of Hampton, Va., 43 total touchdowns this year, five more than the ACC record he established last year in 14 games.

“He and I have an unbelievable relationship that in my opinion will matter to him,” Morris said. “You have to do what is best for your family, but I honestly feel the improvement we saw from him in year one to year two in this system, and now going year two to year three, I think he can only improve himself.”

Boyd, who was also named ACC Player of the Year, has set 11 Clemson records on a game, season and career basis this year. He had five touchdown passes in three different games and threw at least one scoring pass in every game this season. He set an ACC record with eight touchdowns rushing and passing against NC State in a 62-48 Clemson victory.

In addition Boyd has rushed for 492 yards this season, the most by a Clemson quarterback in 11 years.

“He is an All-American,” Morris said. “We stress that to him. ‘Hey, you are a first-team All-American so you are going to have to play like it. You are going to have to prepare like it. It’s no fluke, they just don’t give those away. You have played well enough to earn that.’

“How much can we continue to put on him? I think we can put some stuff on him. I really do. As we go and even work into spring ball, I think you are going to see more added to his plate.”

Though Boyd, who says he has not received his draft grade from the NFL, is the conference player of the year and is a first-team All-American, Morris says there are still things his quarterback has to improve upon, like reading defenses better.

“I think that is something that he had a huge improvement on from year one to year two in this system,” Morris said. “Now he is going from two to three and in the off-season that’s an area he can always improve on.”