The old saying that the backup quarterback is everybody’s favorite player doesn’t apply here.

Not at Clemson when you’ve got Deshaun Watson leading the Tigers to national title game between trips to major cities across the country, to make appearances as one of the faces of college football.

But there’s going to come a day — presumably within the next 365 — when he’ll announce his plans to turn pro. Watson’s already won a bunch of games at Clemson and most folks in Orange expect at least 11 or 12 more.

Records will fall. Hearts around the ACC will be broken by halftime. Clemson will contend for another trip to the College Football Playoff as long as No. 4 is on the field.

If he was still “injury prone” there would probably be more pre-spring practice interest in Kelly Bryant, Tucker Israel and Nick Schuessler. Bryant and Schuessler were listed as the co-backups when last season ended, but most observers who watched enough Clemson football last season shared the same opinion about No. 2.

Brandon Streeter spoke with TheClemsonInsider recently about the guy most folks expect will be THE backup quarterback by the time 2016 gets rolling on The Plains.

“Number one, he’s just an unbelievable kid. He’s fun to coach. He’s happy, he’s excited about coming to practice. He wants to learn. He’s a very talented kid,” Streeter said. ‘On top of that, he’s a great size kid. He’s 6-3…215 pounds. Can’t coach that.”

As a freshman in 2015, Bryant rushed 23 times for 156 yards and two touchdowns. Most of that was in Clemson’s first blow-out win at Sun Life Stadium.

“He, obviously, can run the football,” Streeter said. “As a true, freshman, it’s hard to come in here and understand the big picture right away.

“He’s continuing to learn. The more reps that Kelly Bryant gets, obviously, the better he becomes. He’s getting confident. I can see that everyday. He’s getting a little bit better — taking those steps that he needs to take.”

Bryant completed 7 of 9 passes for 27 yards and an interception. His rating, according to ESPN, was 80.8.

“The biggest thing for him is just being comfortable and really confident with where he needs to go with the ball in a split-second,” Streeter said. “He’s way better than he was, obviously, in the spring when he first got here — even since preseason camp.

“Then, just being consistent as a thrower — not just making decisions in a split-second, but as a thrower, he’s improved with his technique, and he’ll continue with that as long as he continues to work on it.”

Watson is certainly the most popular player on the team, but Bryant probably isn’t too far down the list. Local kid. Good person off the field. Tons of physical tools for the football field.

TCI’s first peak at year two for No. 2 is less than two weeks away. Stay tuned.

If you haven’t already order your copy today of Guts & Glory – Tales of Clemson’s Historic 2015 Football Season to help you celebrate and remember this special season.