Since Isaiah Battle and Clemson parted ways back in July, many have since worried about Deshaun Watson’s blindside now that a true freshman in Mitch Hyatt is protecting him when he drops back to pass.
But Watson isn’t one of them.
“I don’t have any problem with it,” the Clemson quarterback said on Monday. “I have all the trust and confidence in him and he knows that.”
Hyatt is scheduled to have his first start at left tackle on Sept. 5 when 12th-ranked Clemson kicks off the season against Wofford in Death Valley. Watson says Hyatt will gain more and more confidence in himself as he gets more and more game experience.
“He will figure it out in the next week or so, especially when we play Wofford,” Watson said. “But I have confidence that I don’t have to worry about anything on my blindside. He is going to be fine.”
Defensive end Shaq Lawson says Hyatt is already proving what a fast learner he is. He has already picked up on some of Lawson’s moves in practice and is winning just as many of the battles as the two-year veteran has.
“I like to challenge him every day to make him better,” Lawson said. “I want him to be one of the best linemen in the nation as a freshman.”
Hyatt comes in as perhaps the most heralded offensive tackle the Tigers have ever signed. When the season starts in two weeks, the former five-star recruit will be the first true freshman to start on the offensive line in 11 years and the first to ever open a season in a starting role.
“Obviously, he came here with hopes and expectations of being the starter, but he did not expect it to happen that fast,” Clemson co-offensive coordinator Tony Elliott said. “Obviously, he thought it would be a camp situation where he thought he would have to beat out an Isaiah Battle. Now you get thrown in the fire and you are blocking Shaw Lawson, and we all know how good Shaq is.”
Lawson is a preseason First-Team All-ACC selection, though he has just one career start to his name. However, Lawson has spent his first two seasons in college as Vic Beasley’s backup and despite that he still finished second on the team in tackles for loss the last two years. Last year, he led all Clemson defensive ends with 44 tackles. His 11 tackles behind the line of scrimmage ranked second on the team, while his 3.5 sacks were tied for second best.
In other words, Hyatt has gone up against a pretty good defensive end the last three weeks of practice.
“You would think a guy who took his lumps, took his lumps, you know mentally, may not be able to recover as quickly. But I will tell you what, he has never backed down,” Elliott said. “He gets better every day. Now you are starting to see where he feels confident going out there and blocking Shaq.
“It’s a battle every day and you are starting to see more confidence and he is starting to use his technique a little bit better.”
And that is why Watson is not concerned about his blindside.
“He has been great ever since he stepped on campus,” Watson said. “We don’t really have any expectations for him other than for him to be himself and be the best player he can be.”