Eagles have hands full with Clemson
Clemson has fielded some of the ACC’s best dual threat quarterbacks in this decade and Boston College defensive ends Zach Allen and Wyatt Ray have faced three of them. The Tigers’ latest marquee field general is true freshman Trevor Lawrence, who started last night’s ACC Atlantic Division game against BC at Alumni Stadium. Clemson is the reigning ACC champion and
entered the game ranked No. 2 in the nation. “This quarterback, he’s the real deal,” Allen said prior to the game. “You definitely have to get in his face as quickly as possible because he can kill you.
“He throws the ball really well and that’s his go-to but he’s really athletic. You see on the tape he can run and move around the pocket and gets out. He can really do it all and as a freshman it is very impressive.
“But they are great all over the field and there is a reason why they are No. 2 in the country.” Lawrence is just the sixth true freshman to start in Clemson history and he entered the game leading the ACC with 18 touchdown passes.
“I think he’s a great player and especially the fact that he is only a freshman,” said Ray.
“He’s one of the best quarterbacks I’ve seen in awhile and he’s a real talent. “He’s a really good player and he’s going to be really good in the future.” Allen played in 13 games as a sophomore in 2016 when Deshaun Watson led Clemson to the ACC title and national championship, and Allen favorably compared Lawrence to Watson.
“He reminds me a lot of Deshaun Watson,” said Allen.
“He tries to stay in the pocket but he’s like Deshaun where he can use his feet and he’s not afraid to do that.
“But both of their strengths are throwing the ball.” Kelly Bryant became Watson’s heir apparent last season when he led the Tigers to their third straight ACC title and a spot in the FBS playoffs. Bryant started 14 games that included a 34-7 win over BC on Sept. 23 at Death Valley.
Bryant finished the season with 262 completions for 2,802 yards and 13 touchdowns while rushing for 665 yards and 11 touchdowns. Despite leading Clemson to wins over Furman, Texas A&M and Georgia Southern, Clemson coach Dabo Swinney benched Bryant for Lawrence against Syracuse on Sept. 29. Bryant left the program later that week and is rumored to be going to Miami.
“Well it’s clear to me that Dabo and his staff knew exactly what they were doing,” said Addazio. “I heard Dabo say he had three great quarterbacks and now he has two, but it’s a testament to the way they have recruited.”