QB Lawrence returns for No. 4 Clemson
Clemson quarterback Trevor Lawrence is fit, confident and most importantly for the Tigers, virus-free.
The junior said Tuesday he is ready for the fourth-ranked Tigers championship run down the stretch.
Lawrence missed past last two games for Clemson (7-1, 6-1 Atlantic Coast Conference) after testing positive for COVID-19, then spent last week recovering his fitness during the team’s bye week.
He’ll be back behind center on Saturday when the Tigers head to Florida State (2-6, 1-6).
“I feel just as good as I did when I left a few weeks ago,” Lawrence said. “Back to normal.”
That’s a frightening prospect for Clemson’s remaining opponents. The 6foot-6 passer with the deft touch, rocket arm and long, flowing hair is 31-1 as a starter at Clemson and was leading an offense that had averaged 48 points a game with Lawrence in charge.
Lawrence watched from isolation as freshman backup DJ Uiagalelei rallied the Tigers from 18-points down to beat Boston College 34-28 on Oct. 31. He was on the sidelines at Notre Dame a week later – he had not completed coronavirus protocol – as Clemson fell 47-40 in double overtime.
Lawrence is anxious to play again.
“He came back with a ton of energy,” Clemson offensive coordinator Tony Elliott said.
“You could tell that, obviously, he was disappointed he couldn’t be out there for his teammates.”
It was difficult not being on the field, Lawrence said. However, he felt true joy and appreciation when he got back to working around his teammates.
“This shows it’s a privilege to get to do what we do,” he said. “Being out here, the days can be long sometimes, sometimes you can lose sight of what you do and why you do it.”
Few do it as well as Lawrence. He’s thrown for 1,833 yards, completing over 70 percent of his throws with 17 touchdowns and two interceptions, ranking 12th nationally in passing efficiency. Earlier this season – expected to be his last in college – Lawrence broke the ACC mark for most passing attempts without throwing a pick held the past decade by North Carolina State’s Russell Wilson.