For Cole Stoudt, a lot has changed in three years

Stoudt was impressive in his first scrimmage

by David Hood - Senior Writer - Wed Apr 03 11:35:08 GMT-04:00 2013

CLEMSON – The first time I saw quarterback Cole Stoudt Cole Stoudt
So. Quarterback
#8 6-5, 205
Dublin, OH
View Full Profile , he was riding on the back of a golf cart with former offensive coordinator Billy Napier prior to a game early in the 2010 season. The team had just completed TigerWalk, and Stoudt was enjoying taking a ride with his recruiter and the person he thought would be his quarterbacks coach and coordinator once he arrived at Clemson.

He was every bit the teenager – wide-eyed and smiling, gawky and skinny, confident he knew what the future held.

As we all know, however, a lot can happen in three years.

Stoudt was interviewed by the media last week following one of Clemson’s spring practices, and it was very obvious that the recruit we first saw – and even the quarterback we saw at times last season – has changed. He’s bigger, stronger, and more confident. He looks like a quarterback, he talks like a quarterback, and from what we’ve heard from the other players and the coaches, he’s playing like a quarterback who finally has it all figured out.

The Dublin, Ohio product has earned praise from both offensive coordinator Chad MorrisChad Morris
Offensive Coordinator / QBs
View Full Profile and head coach Dabo SwinneyDabo Swinney
Head Coach
View Full Profile during the first part of spring practice, and had the best numbers of any quarterback during last week’s scrimmage, connecting on 6-of-9 passes for 113 yards with two touchdowns and an interception.

Stoudt credited the change with added maturity and being able to work out with his father, former NFL quarterback Cliff Stoudt, who has helped his son relax by working on consistency in his throwing motion.

“I’ve been throwing with my Dad, (I’ve been) working on my form,” Stoudt said. “Just learning to relax my throw instead of being tense and having to worry about every single throw. Just go out and throw and have fun with it.”

It also helps to pick the brain of a former NFL player.

“I don’t think I’ve ever gone home and he hasn’t talked about football,” Stoudt said. “Every single time we do, it’s a great conversation. “We’re in depth with it, going through the playbook, talking – I’ve never been like, ‘Oh my gosh, I don’t want to talk about football.’ It’s like: ‘Can we please talk.’ It’s got me in a groove and I got my motivation back talking to him.”

Cliff Stoudt told TigerNet this week that he has also seen the change in his son.

“Physically, he has developed a lot and he is a little bit stronger,” Cliff said. “But Cole has always been receptive to me when we talk. He works on things we see. If I see a kink in his throwing motion, he will change and work on it and he has become very comfortable with his motion.

“He has worked on the little things. I’ve told him that when it comes to throwing, it has become where it’s like taking your next breath and you don’t even think about it. When you are not thinking about that, you can concentrate on the next play. He has put it all together like I told him it would.”

Stoudt told the media that with the arrival of the much-heralded Chad KellyChad Kelly
Fr. Quarterback
#11 6-2, 210
Buffalo, NY
View Full Profile and with the lack of playing time behind starter Tajh BoydTajh Boyd
RS Jr. Quarterback
#10 6-1, 225
Hampton, VA
View Full Profile , he contemplated transferring to another school.

His love of Clemson, however, won out.

“I don’t think there’s any other place like Clemson,” he said. “I’ve loved it ever since I’ve been here. The coaches are great. Being around these coaches are like being around another family. I don’t think I could ever leave. Even after college, I might just stay in Clemson.”

Last spring, there might have been very little motivation to go out and compete – he wasn’t pushed for the second spot on the depth chart, and he knew he couldn’t unseat the incumbent.

This spring, however, is a different story as Kelly and Stoudt are locked in a battle for the number two spot for this season – and a battle for the number one spot next year.

“Every spring is big,” Stoudt said, “but this is one is pretty big. Next year when Tajh is gone it’s just going to be me and Chad battling out again. (I’m) just trying to get as much as I can done here to be the best as I can be. Trying to get some playing time next year – I’m hoping I will.”

He said that the competition in the quarterback room is intense, but they also push each other to be better.

“Our competition is tight in the meeting rooms coaching each other,” he said. “Me, Donny (McElveen), Tajh, Chad – we’re all coaching up Tajh and Tajh is coaching up us. It’s kind of like us all coaching each other and making all of us better. The competition between me and Chad is good. It’s making us work hard and making us push Tajh, which is what we really need to do.”