Trevor Lawrence is less than 24 hours removed from putting on one of the most impressive championship-game performances we’ve ever seen from a freshman.
His 347-yard, three-touchdown game against Alabama sparked a blowout victory for Clemson. Big throw after big throw — he was just so money.
It was the cherry on top of a magnificent season in which he had fans oohing and ahing nearly every weekend due to his unbelievable arm talent and poise.
Yet on Tuesday morning, Clemson head coach Dabo Swinney made it clear that Lawrence is not the presumptive starter next season: Trevor’s got to go earn the job again,” Swinney said, per Eric Branch of the San Francisco Chronicle. “You don’t carry those TDs over.”
This is the way it should be. Never rest on your laurels. Never assume anything. This type of thinking is the reason why Joe Montana was pushed out of San Francisco in the latter stages of his career by fellow Hall of Famer Steve Young.
Swinney is an unbelievable coach. He has now won two national championships in the past three seasons, and his Clemson Tigers are primed for another huge campaign in 2019 due to his recruiting prowess, and because Lawrence should be even better — in no small part due to the leadership at the top.