Clemson’s Bryant transferring after losing starting job

Clemson quarterback Kelly Bryant feels he didn’t get a fair shot to keep his job and has decided to transfer after highly touted freshman Trevor Lawrence was named the starter for the thirdranked Tigers.

And Colorado has been mentioned as a possible destination.

Clemson coach Dabo Swinney announced the senior’s intention to transfer Wednesday, two days after it was announced that Lawrence would start this week against Syracuse.

Bryant had started the past 18 games for the Tigers, going 162. He missed the past two days of practice after what Swinney said was an emotional conversation between the two on Monday.

“It was a rough day,” Swinney said.

Chris Hummer of 247sports.com listed eight schools where Bryant might transfer, including CU. Bryant can play in 2019 because of a new NCAA redshirt rule that allows a player to compete in four games before losing a year of eligibility.

Hummer noted that Bryant knows CU quarterbacks coach Kurt Roper, who served as Florida’s lead recruiter on Bryant. Hummer also listed Arkansas, Auburn, East Carolina, Florida, North Carolina, North Carolina State and UCLA as good fits for Bryant.

Bryant’s demotion did not sit well with the graduate student, who led Clemson to a 122 mark last year, a third consecutive Atlantic Coast Conference championship and College Football Playoff berth.

“I’ve been here. I’ve waited my turn. I’ve done everything y’all have asked me to do, plus more,’“Bryant told The Greenville News. “I’ve never been a distraction. I’ve never been in trouble with anything. To me, it was kind of a slap in the face.”

Bryant did not immediately return messages left by The Associated Press.

Bryant, who turned 22 on Tuesday, graduated this past May and has one more year of eligibility left. NCAA rules permitted him to play in four games this year. But had he taken a snap against Syracuse on Saturday, Bryant’s college career would’ve ended after this season.

Questions about Bryant’s performance after he replaced former Clemson AllAmerican Deshaun Watson began in last year’s Sugar Bowl.

After Tigers’ offensive struggles in a 246 loss to Alabama, many outside the program started pointing to the 6foot6 Lawrence as the Tigers’ next championship quarterback.

Bryant won the starting job this summer, although Lawrence has gotten significant time in what had been Clemson’s twoquarterback rotation.

While Bryant has started all four games this season, Lawrence has been more productive. He’s completed 39 of 60 passes for 600 yards, nine touchdowns and two interceptions.

Swinney was “sad” and “disappointed” with Bryant’s choice.