The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Tigers QB doesn't disappoint
Swinney says on’s successor all that he expected.
Clemson coaches insist the Tigers’ success is about more than a few individual stars. Just because the Tigers sent their quarterback, leading receiver
and leading rusher to the NFL after winning the national championship does not mean Clemson will fail to reach the College Football Playoff for a third straight season.
New starting quarterback Kelly Bryant had 236 yards passing and a touchdown
and 77 yards rushing in his first start to lead No. 5 Clemson to a season-opening 56-3 victory over Kent State on Saturday.
The game was much closer to an exhibition than a true test. The Tigers gained 665 yards to 120 yards for the Golden Flashes, who seemed more intent on getting back to Ohio unharmed, passing the ball just five times with one completion for one yard.
But it was an important confidence booster for Bryant, the junior who never had any serious playing time his first two seasons backing up Deshaun Watson.
Bryant had a perfectly placed 61-yard touchdown pass to Deon Cain on his second drive. He mirrored Watson’s running ability, taking off for a 47-yard run after all his receivers were covered.
And he showed the “swag” that coach Dabo Swinney promised to fans skittish
about Watson’s departure. “That’s what I was hoping to see,” Swinney said. “That’s what I have seen in practice for a while.”
Bryant led an 89-yard touchdown drive that put Clemson ahead 35-3 to start the second half, and then Swinney played his backups.
“I wasn’t surprised. I knew the type of player I was,” said Bryant, who was so loose he made sure he put an official’s cap back on his head after accidentally knocking it off.
Bryant had a rough spring game and Swinney didn’t commit to him as starter until about halfway through opening practices in August. But the coach left little doubt where his mind is now.
When asked if they were happy that Clemson’s backup quarterbacks got to play, Swinney a nd the other coaches quickly insisted Bryant was the undisputed starter.
“It was special for everybody else to see what we’ve
been seeing. Sometimes you maybe don’t believe the coaches when we talk
about all the success we’ve had during fall camp,” co-offensive coordinator Jeff Scott said.
Payday: The Golden Flashes were paid $800,000 to play Clemson. Interim coach Don Treadwell said he would talk to coach Paul Haynes, who is on medical leave, to see what might need changing.
This is the second year in a row Kent State has played the defending national cham- pions. The Golden Flashes lost to Alabama 48-0 in 2016.
Celebration time: The Tigers celebrated their second national title one last time before the game and at halftime.
The Tiger mascot ran the championship trophy down the hill before the game, the school unveiled three signs around the stadium marking the playoff appearance and title, and the band did a “31-0” formation to honor the score in Clemson’s demolition of Ohio State in the national semifinals.