Quarterbacks
Clemson’s coaching staff returned from a four-day weekend on Monday and began planning for the 2017 season. Spring practice kicks off on March 1 as the Tigers have to answer a lot of questions on offense this spring, especially on who will replace Deshaun Watson at quarterback.
Replacing Watson will not be easy. Sure, the numbers might be able to be replaced and some of the wins, but the thing you can’t replace is who he is a player, quarterback and as a leader.
Watson is one of those rare players that has that “it-factor” that no one can really explain. It was that “it-factor” that allowed Clemson to come back and win four games this year in the fourth quarter, including a game-winning 68-yard drive in the national championship game to beat Alabama.
It all four 4th-quarter or overtime wins, Watson threw the game winning touchdown pass.
No moment is ever too big for Watson, a trait few players have. He leaves Clemson with a 32-3 record as a starting quarter. His 91.4 win percentage is the best in Clemson history, while his 32 wins in three years ties Rodney Williams (32-10-2) and Tajh Boyd (32-8) for the most all time.
The two-time Heisman Trophy Finalist owns countless school and ACC records for a career, season and game. He was also a two-time Manning Award recipient, and a two-time Davey O’Brien Award recipient, as the nation’s best quarterback. He was, and still, is the only FBS player to throw for 4,000 yards and rush for 1,000 yards in the same.
Watson is second all-time in Clemson history with 10,163 passing yards. He also rushed for 1,931 yards and scored 26 touchdowns. His 12,094 total yards is also second, while his 116 total touchdowns rank second as well.
Kelly Bryant: Clemson head coach Dabo Swinney and quarterbacks coach Brandon Streeter have both said Bryant will get first-team reps to start off the spring and then they will go from there. Streeter said Bryant has gotten better and better each week because of his experience, and with the reps he has received at practice. Bryant did get some game experience last year. He played in four games, completing 6-of-9 passes for 48 yards, including his first touchdown pass of his career. He also ran the football 12 times for 22 yards and scored on a 27-yard touchdown. The game has slowed down for Bryant as far as him being able to make his reads cleaner and being more decisive. He has been able to throw the ball more consistently.
Zerrick Cooper: He redshirted in 2016. Streeter has used a lot of different tools to help him such as the virtual reality computers and much more. He worked at every practice with the other quarterbacks and did individual drills. He also went to meetings with the rest of the quarterbacks as well. By going to the meetings, Streeter says Cooper already has an understanding of how his meetings are run and what he expects each quarterback to bring to the table. Streeter said he is learning his meeting style and how he teaches and then he is also learning the bases of the offense.
Hunter Johnson: Enrolled for classes last month. He is considered to challenge for the starting job, but right now he is playing catch up to Kelly and Cooper. The Clemson offense, which is known as a power-spread, is different than Johnson’s skill set. Johnson, a five-star prospect from Brownsburg, Indiana, is considered more of a pro-style quarterback than a spread quarterback. Streeter says Johnson has a great demeanor which gives him an opportunity to be very, very successful at Clemson. He was a four-year starter at Brownsburg, Ind., where he set schools record for passing yards (6,657) and touchdowns (69). This past fall, he earned Mr. Football honors in the state of Indiana by passing for 2,233 yards and 25 touchdowns. He also rushed for 525 yards and three more scores. Johnson was rated as the No. 2 quarterback prospect in the country and as the No. 18 overall player by Rivals. He was also the No. 1 prospect coming out of the state of Indiana.
Tucker Israel: Redshirt sophomore. He played sparingly in 2016, throwing for 25 yards on 4-for-4 passing in two games. In high school, was a second-team All-American and set six state passing records in the state of Florida. Though the smallest of the four quarterbacks (5-11, 195), Israel has a rocket for an arm and is very accurate.
We are now taking orders for our limited edition magazine Mission Accomplished. Remember Clemson’s championship season with this great magazine from the staff that covers Clemson football 365 days a year. Order yours today to make sure you get a copy!
