CLEMSON in the NFL

ESPN analyst Trevor Matich says Bryant's ability in the running game sets him apart in the comparison with Deshaun Watson.
ESPN analyst Trevor Matich says Bryant's ability in the running game sets him apart in the comparison with Deshaun Watson.

ESPN analyst: Bryant 'will be better' than Watson


by - Staff Writer -

A bold statement was kind of lost in the middle of No. 2 Clemson's 47-21 win at top-15 Louisville Saturday night.

When someone mentioned Kelly Bryant's career night to Deshaun Watson on Twitter, Watson answered with as high a praise as it comes when you take a look at the Clemson record books.

"He will be better than me!" Watson said.

One ESPN college football analyst agrees with the assessment.

"It's not fair (to Bryant)," ESPN's Trevor Matich said, "but fortunately he's doing well enough that it's OK. And for Deshaun Watson it is an opportunity to be both gracious and correct. I think he will be better."

Bryant totaled career-bests in passing (316) and total yards (342) at Louisville with three touchdowns. The Wren product ranks fifth nationally in rushing scores (5) and top-30 in total offense (27, 298.3) and yards per pass through three games (30, 8.83).

"He's a more physically-gifted athlete on the field than Deshaun Watson," Matich said. "It starts with him as a runner. He's faster in the open field than Watson. He's more sudden with his breaks. And he's more powerful. Watson would run like a quarterback would run. He's slippery and he's good, but looked like a quarterback.

"Bryant looks like a running back. Then when it comes to arm talent, he's got the ability and accuracy to fit the ball in tight windows. Not just tight windows, but the appropriate corner of the window like Watson did. The only limit on his ceiling is how he develops mentally in the position because Deshaun Watson was the most mentally-dominant quarterback in college football over the last two years - and Bryant is on the way."

Bryant is now 3-0 as a starter, following a 32-3 run as the starting quarterback for Watson. Watson earned the Manning Award for the nation's top QB his final two seasons in leading Clemson to back-to-back national championship appearances and the Tigers' first national title since 1981.

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