Clemson ranked #1 QB situation in CFB

by Tony Crumpton - Assoc. Editor - Sun Jul 31 22:35:05 GMT-04:00 2016

ESPN released Phil Steele's ranking of the nation's top 50 quarterback situations in college football recently and Clemson's was ranked #1 in the nation.

Obviously, heisman finalist Deshaun Watson will be starting under center for Clemson this upcoming season. He completed 333 of 491 passes for 4,104 yards and 35 touchdowns and also had 207 rushes for 1105 yards and 12 scores this past season. His 5,209 yards of total offense and his 47 total touchdowns were ACC records, and his rushing total was a record for a Clemson quarterback.

"The big question last year was whether Deshaun Watson would stay healthy," Steele said via ESPN. "The Tigers limited his running early (238.4 total yards per game in Clemson's first five games) but over the last 10, he averaged 16.2 rushes per game and 401.7 total yards per game, including 478 versus the vaunted Alabama defense. He was the first FBS player with 4,000 passing yards and 1,000 rushing yards in a year (4,104, 1,105). Backup Kelly Bryant is bigger, stronger and faster than Watson, and he got his feet wet as a true freshman."

Clemson quarterbacks coach Brandon Streeter told reporters recently that each of the other quarterbacks will get opportunities to show what they can do in fall practice to win the backup job.

"With the backup guys, Nick and Kelly are guys that are going to be equal as far as reps," Streeter said. "They both are doing a great job, but they both will get the next amount of reps. Tucker has had some setbacks. Last preseason he didn't even get to practice. His deal will be showing consistency and staying healthy. He'll get reps, and then Zerrick will have a shot, too. He's a guy that's very intriguing and has a ton of talent. In order for him to improve from the knowledge aspect, he's got to get reps. It's all about the experience. I'm going to have to juggle it around and make sure certain guys get different reps here and there, but they're all going to have their opportunity. I foresee Kelly and Nick getting the majority of the two reps."