By Ed McGranahan.

Nobody, let alone Dabo Swinney, wants to go through another season like last year’s when the lack of depth at quarterback became so critical.

Ideally it’s no more than determining a pecking order, but a proficient, effective backup quarterback must be identified by Clemson coaches this
spring and groomed in August should Deshaun Watson sustain another injury in a short career still with an incomparably high ceiling.

There’s a window of opportunity, and Clemson can’t be caught with its shorts flapping in the breeze.

Limiting Watson won’t be a consideration. Swinney said that protecting him will be a priority, which was why four new offensive linemen
enrolled in January to join the five with significant experience.

“We run a zone read. That’s what we do. That’s why (Watson) came here,” Swinney said. “You don’t play the game in fear.

“We’ve never had a problem with a quarterback staying healthy,” he said, choosing not to mention Kyle Parker played with a fractured rib most of
his final season. “It was just kind of one of those years.

All four quarterbacks should benefit from a supporting cast that consists of four veteran backs including leading rusher Wayne Gallman;
four experienced receivers led by Mike Williams and Artavis Scott, who combined for 1,995 yards and 14 touchdowns; a deep intriguing group of
tight ends and several freshmen and redshirts that should have opportunities to contribute.

“Hopefully we have a complete cast around them,” Swinney said of his quarterback.

A year ago he thought they were set with senior Cole Stoudt designated the starter out of spring, precociously talented Chad Kelly as the
backup and Watson chilling in the wings. Perhaps realizing his fate and not pleased, Kelly challenged his coaches during and after the spring
game and was kicked off the team leaving Stoudt, Watson, who sustained a cracked collarbone days earlier, and little known Nick Schussler.

With Stoudt graduating, freshmen Kelly Bryant and Tucker Israel recognized the opportunity and enrolled in January. With Schussler they
share the backup role until Swinney, his co-coordinators and quarterback coach decide to construct a totem.

For practical purposes, Schussler should be considered next in line as a redshirt junior, but Bryant and Israel come with impressive resumes and
Swinney won’t say if one has any advantage over the others.

“We have a ton of work to do with Tucker and Kelly in particular,” Swinney said. “We’ve got to get one of them or both of them ready to
play.”

“We have no idea what’s going to happen during fall camp,” he said. “Ohio State played their third-team guy and won a national championship.
So we’ve got to get all four guys ready to win the league for us.”

With Watson continuing to recover from a surgically repaired knee, here’s how Swinney characterized each of the potential backups:

Schussler (6-3, 195, RS junior Grayson, Ga.): “Nick has got to take another step as far as his command, leadership precision in this
offense. He knows it, but he’s got to take that next step. I think he will. We’re really going to push him this spring because we need Nick to
assert himself more. … Nick’s a factor. It’s little sense of urgency.”

Bryant (6-4, 205, Wren HS): “Yes he did not grow up like he’s had the last couple of years. He ran the option a lot and was seen more as an
athlete, but he has all the tools to be a great quarterback. And he has a huge ceiling. He has so much room to improve; it’s going to be a lot
of fun to watch. He’s a worker, a great young man, an excellent student. I think his potential is unlimited. Kelly has this tremendous size and
athleticism to go with it.”

Israel (5-11, 190, Orlando, Fla.): “Tucker, on the other hand, yeah he came out of the womb slinging it. He throws the ball all over the place.
He’s thrown a million passes. I don’t know that he’s handed the ball off. That could be a new concept for him. … He has a very high acumen,
IQ from a passing game standpoint, coverages and getting rid of the ball. You don’t see him get hit a lot. He’s a little like Kyle Parker in
that regard. He reminds me of Kyle. … kind of a loose guy, not really overwhelmed. He’s not going to overwhelm you athletic but he’ll shock
you like Kyle.”