By Will Vandervort

With former players like Xavier Brewer, Brandon Ford and Malliciah Goodman watching the first day of spring practice from the sideline as they rest their bodies for Thursday’s Pro Day at the Indoor Practice Facility, Tajh Boyd did not even flinch when asked if he thought about that being him out there had he chosen to turn professional two months ago.

Even with New York Jets head coach Rex Ryan watching, the Clemson quarterback said it never once crossed his mind during Wednesday’s practice.

“I watch the NFL Network. I have seen it,” Boyd said while flashing his signature smile. “You might think about it every now and again, but it was to the point where I was thinking about it a week and half after I made my decision. I was sitting there, like ‘What if I or should have I?’

“But at the same time, I felt like I came back for the right reasons and that was to come out here and win a championship and to be the best player I can be. There are a lot of things that are within our reach as a program and it has to be hundred percent focused. I’m not looking at that at all. That’s done.”

Instead of thinking about Pro Day or Rex Ryan, Boyd said the Tigers’ focus Wednesday was on taking that next to get better as a football team.

“I’m excited about it,” Boyd said. “Coach (Dabo Swinney) does a great job of challenging us. One of the things for me is trying to take my role as a leader to another level.

“Honestly, I want to be the greatest quarterback to play at this university. The only way to get that done is to win as many games as possible. So, it has to take a joint and courageous effort. We have to continue to build. There are a lot of expectations for us on the outside, but there are a lot of expectations for us on the inside as well.”

Succeeding those expectations began Wednesday. Clemson has 13 practices and the spring game left between now and April 13, and Boyd understands they have to make the most of them so they are ready to move forward with summer workouts, fall camp and then preparations for a matchup against a Top 5 Georgia team on Aug. 31.

“I don’t think you can script this any better than the situation it is right now,” the Clemson quarterback said. “It’s a night game, ABC, Brent Musburger, I mean; it doesn’t get much better than that.

“There is a sense of urgency. Guys know what we are capable of. We know what type of team we can have and now we have to put it to good use and continue to work. Every time we step on this field, there cannot be a lack of focus because the time is limited… The time goes by so fast so when we are out here we need to take advantage of it and utilize it, and continue to build and bond as a team.”