Tigers’ Bryant replaces Watson

CLEMSON, S.C. — Kelly Bryant believes he is prepared to Clemson's starting quarterback and is ready to keep the Tigers playing at a national- championship level.

Tigers fans will be watching intently for any slip-ups by the 6-foot-3, 215-pound junior.

Bryant has sat on the bench the past two seasons studying former star Deshaun Watson, listening closely to what Watson had to say and mirroring his actions at practice. Now Bryant is eager to make his own mark, staring in the Tigers’ season-opener against Kent State on Saturday.

Watson “did a lot of things, a lot of great things here,” Bryant said. “That's the standard that's been set, not only by Deshaun but by the past few guys that have come through here.”

Bryant understands that Clemson supporters will be breaking down nearly every decision he makes to see how if can duplicate Watson's success. It will be challenge. Watson was the Houston Texans' firstround draft pick and was 29-2 his last 31 starts with the Tigers — including a national-title win over No. 1 Alabama in January.

Bryant has breaking things down, too — one snap at a time.

“That's the biggest thing that the coaches have emphasized in the quarterback room, just do our job and everything will take care of itself,” he said.

Bryant arrived at Clemson from Calhoun Falls, about an hour's drive from campus, and was among the top prep quarterbacks in South Carolina when he signed with Tigers. He accounted for 4,299 yards and 55 touchdowns his senior season at Wren High. With a strong, accurate arm and running back moves, some fans suggested in 2015 that Bryant should start over Watson, who was coming off an injury-filled freshman season.

But Bryant accepted early on that his time would come after Watson left. Bryant saw little action behind Watson and upperclassman Nick Schuessler his first two seasons, doing what he could to stay prepared if called on.

Once the title celebration died down on campus, Bryant began transforming himself into Watson's successor while giddy Tigers fans gushed about the fivestar prototype passer who signed with Clemson. Freshman Hunter Johnson from Indiana was dubbed by many the natural highprofile successor to Watson.

But they didn't get to make the decision.

Clemson coach Dabo Swinney believes Bryant can be successful.

“If he'll do 70 percent of what I've seen on the practice field, he's going to be a really good player,” Swinney said. “We just haven't had the chance to see him play.”