Kelly Bryant opened 2018 as Clemson’s quarterback, but he was understandably frustrated at the news of Trevor Lawrence taking the starting job.
Head coach Dabo Swinney told reporters he and Bryant had an “emotional” conversation following the news. When asked about the possibility of Bryant transferring, Swinney simply said they covered many topics, per Matt Connolly of The State.
“We talked about lots of things. It was a deep, long, emotional conversation. It’s something that we needed to talk through and go from there.”
The major takeaway is that Swinney didn’t rule out a transfer. No matter Bryant’s eventual choice, it would be sensible.
Last season, he guided Clemson to its third straight ACC championship and appearance in the College Football Playoff. There are a bunch of programs that would be interested in the dual-threat quarterback if he became available as a transfer.
That route would be logical if Bryant prioritizes individual success — and there’s nothing wrong with thinking about himself.
In that case, the senior would need to utilize the new redshirt rule and not play in any more games this season.
Conversely, he’s a proven weapon for Clemson. Lawrence is likely to excel, but that’s not a guarantee, either. Bryant would be a terrific emergency option if the Tigers start to stumble on their way to the College Football Playoff.
It’s a tough spot for Bryant. Swinney appears he’ll be fully supportive of whatever decision comes next, and that’s all a player could ask for at this point.