CLEMSON FOOTBALL

Who will be the next face of the franchise?
Does Kelly's running ability give him an advantage?

Who will be the next face of the franchise?


by - Senior Writer -

CLEMSON – As soon as the final seconds tick off the clock next Friday night and the 2013 season has been laid to rest, the question will be asked: Who will be Clemson’s quarterback in the 2014 season opener against Georgia?

Will it be rising senior Cole StoudtCole Stoudt
Jr. Quarterback
#18 6-4, 205
Dublin, OH

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, the steady hand who knows the system inside and out? Will it be Chad KellyChad Kelly
RS Fr. Quarterback
#11 6-2, 210
Buffalo, NY

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, the mercurial New York native who brings a certain swagger to the position? Or will freshman Deshaun Watson arrive on campus in January and take the position away from the veterans?

Those questions are a long way from being answered, even though Clemson head coach Dabo SwinneyDabo Swinney
Head Coach
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said Friday afternoon that he will look to Stoudt to be one of the leaders next season, perhaps giving a small glimpse into what the coaches are thinking.

However, outgoing starter Tajh BoydTajh Boyd
RS Sr. Quarterback
#10 6-1, 225
Hampton, VA

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said he thinks the program will be successful no matter which player wins the job.

“We’ve set a foundation here to the point where we’re going to be successful as a program regardless of who takes the reins,” Boyd said following Friday’s practice. “Hopefully I put my stamp on those guys, and they learned a lot, good and bad. We’re a pretty tight-knit group. I’m excited. It’s going to be an intriguing quarterback battle. Whoever is in that starting role is going to be the best player for this team.”

Stoudt has played in 22 games during the first three years of his Clemson career, logging almost 300 snaps (287). This season, Stoudt played 116 snaps and was an amazing 47-for-59 for 415 yards and five touchdowns.

Kelly red-shirted last season, but played 55 snaps this season, completing 10-of-17 passes for 58 yards. He also carried the ball 16 times for 117 yards.

“It’s going to be a lot of fun to see them compete,” Swinney said. “I’m sad because Tajh has to move on, but I’m excited about the guys that we have to work with. Because this is a very talented group of guys that are on our roster at that position. It’s a good problem to have.”

Swinney then said that whichever quarterback takes Boyd’s spot, he will have to be more than just a contributor on the field.

“It’s not all about (football); it’s about how he has represented this program,” Swinney said. “How he has embraced being the face and voice of this program, and taken pride in that. If you’re going to be the quarterback at Clemson, everything counts. Everything counts. Tajh Boyd has done a tremendous job. I know he’s very confident in the guys that are going to be here in this program when he’s gone.”

Boyd said he took the job of being the face of the Clemson franchise seriously, and he hopes that the quarterbacks who follow in his footsteps will follow the same path.

“It’s more than just football. One of the things I tried to place myself is the outside aspect of not just football. You’ve got to be able to communicate,” Boyd said. “It’s not just representation for this football team, but for this program, for this state. Obviously we’re not politicians, but playing at this institution, essentially this is the NFL team of the state. There’s no pro teams. You’re looked at in that light, so you’ve got to be prepared for every moment. I talk to the guys all the time, and whoever takes over, I’m pretty confident he’ll be well and ready for it.”

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Subject (Replies: 29) Author
spacer Front Page Story: Who will be the next face of the franchise?
TigerNet News®
spacer Chad Kelly is much more the type the media would slobber
NortherTiger
spacer Dabo is smart
drewtigeralum03
spacer I don't think Cole is any better a runner then tajh
Drobins
spacer The difference in waiting is just age and experience I think
NortherTiger
spacer Re: I don't think Cole is any better a runner then tajh
TigerDrewz
spacer Maybe so, but I expect Stoudt to start, and even though the
Smiling Tiger®
spacer I won't be surprised if Stoudt starts in the UGA game. But
NortherTiger
spacer The guy who gives us the best chance to win that week will
Smiling Tiger®
spacer Ummm, so we suffered through Boyd's struggles for some
NortherTiger
spacer I'm not sure what you are thinking. We suffered through
Smiling Tiger®
spacer Re: Chad Kelly is much more the type the media would slobber
footballmanager
spacer Not sure where you get that from but many of Chad's runs
Shane_Morgan
spacer If there was ever a media topic for a fb board this is IT
ObiWan
spacer Quarterback is the most important position in sports***
drewtigeralum03
spacer Of course it's a media thing. What isn't? Everything about
NortherTiger
spacer Actually Dabo started this crap.
Clemtiger81®
spacer Will be debated over worse than obamacare
TigerBry83
spacer Re: Front Page Story: Who will be the next face of the franchise?
lead tiger
spacer Re: Front Page Story: Who will be the next face of the franchise?
Butchb
spacer Re: Front Page Story: Who will be the next face of the franchise?
tigerdancer
spacer Jesus***
deleted
spacer Re: Jesus***
RhinoTiger
spacer If all 3 are equal, Cole starts
TigerTownFaithful
spacer I sure hope...
Prime T. Tiger
spacer But if all 3 can DO that thing equally well...
TigerTownFaithful
spacer Re: If all 3 are equal, Cole starts
allorangeallthetime52®
spacer There will be much hand wringing over this
silvavocati
spacer Re: Front Page Story: Who will be the next face of the franchise?
merlin
spacer Re: Front Page Story: Who will be the next face of the franchise?
Logan4Heisman