Clemson’s quarterback battle may not be finished

Dabo Swinney seems to want Kelly Bryant to be his starting quarterback, but Trevor Lawrence is still in the race to lead Clemson’s offense.

Kelly Bryant was good enough to get Clemson into the College Football Playoff last season, but that doesn’t guarantee him anything in 2018. In fact, Bryant’s status as the Tigers’ starting quarterback is still very much under fire.

According to Clemson offensive coordinator Tony Elliott, Bryant exited spring ball as the clear number one option under center. He also said that hotshot freshman Trevor Lawrence was “on his heels.” That’s a clear indication that no final decision has been made about who will start the opener against Furman on Sept. 1.

Of course, the ultimate decision lies on the hands of head coach Dabo Swinney. He doesn’t know how things are going to “shake out” at the team’s most important position. He and Elliott have already actively discussed the possibility of heading into next season with a two-quarterback system. The staff likes the idea about requiring opposing defenses to prepare for two very different options under center.

Bryant is clearly the better runner of the two. He isn’t going to conjure up images of Deshaun Watson in the low country, but he can punish defenses on the ground. He isn’t a bad passer, but throwing for 13 touchdowns and eight interceptions during his junior season put a lot of pressure on the Clemson defense to win games. Tigers fans would love to see the offense return to its prolific ways this season.

That’s why some fans want to see Lawrence get the nod. He arrived at Clemson with massive expectations as the consensus No. 2 quarterback in his recruiting class. Unlike Bryant, he isn’t going to torment defenses with his feet. Instead, he can use his big arm to threaten opponents. Given the talent Clemson possesses at wide receiver, it might make more sense for Swinney to go with the superior passer.

The good news for Clemson fans is that their defense should give the coaching staff room to make either choice. The offense isn’t going to be asked to carry the team early on. A trip to Kyle Field to play Texas A&M in Week 2 could be tricky, but the defense should be enough to carry the day. After that, the schedule is very manageable until the Tigers travel to Florida State on the last weekend in October.

Expect Swinney to give Bryant every opportunity to win the job. If he can show solid improvement over his junior campaign he should remain in the lineup. That doesn’t mean Lawrence won’t play at all. It’s always smart to make sure the backup quarterback has actual game experience before he’s forced into the action.

Bryant can’t afford to falter though. If he looks like his development has stopped, the coaching staff will have no choice but to go with Lawrence. This program is primed to compete for a national title this year. It may take a more dynamic offense to overcome elite opposition late in the year. Lawrence’s insertion into the lineup could significantly raise the ceiling of the Clemson offense.

Tigers fans should expect to see two quarterbacks this season. Bryant will need to play well early to keep the calls for Lawrence at bay.