Kelly Bryant Wasted Zero Time After Losing His Job To A Freshman

Stop the presses. Kelly Bryant is transferring from Clemson.

This is all just a couple of days after Dabo Swinney announced that after 18 straight starts for Bryant, freshman (and daughter from Ozark look-a-like) Trevor Lawrence will be taking over as QB1 vs Syracuse this weekend.

Via Greenville News…

“I feel like it’s what’s best for me and my future. I was just going to control what I could control and try to make the most of my opportunity, but at the end of the day, I just don’t feel like I’ve gotten a fair shot.”

First of all – and this is by far the biggest piece of this puzzle – don’t forget that the NCAA red shirt rule that slid across the table this summer played a huge factor in this. Guys can play up to four games and still transfer. And Kelly Bryant has played in four games this season.

If he was going to do it, this was the exact (and only) time to do it.

Remember when everyone thought “holy shit, the NCAA did something that actually benefited the student-athlete for once?” Well, here we are seeing it unfold in real life. Kids are going to take advantage of this. An Oklahoma State WR did the same thing yesterday.

My initial reaction:
1. Saying you didn’t get a fair shot when you had 18 games as a starter is a wild stretch. That’s MORE than enough time to prove the job should be yours.

2. The rule is in place. This is his last year in college. He wants to play. (and FWIW, he’ll have plenty of opportunities to play somewhere else). I can understand why people could see it as selfish, but all of those reasons make sense (for him).

3. Dabo 1000% made the right call on naming Trevor Lawrence his starter. It’s not taking anything away from Bryant, but the freshman is just the better QB. Period. Clemson’s offense is much better with Lawrence behind center. In fact, the decision should have come earlier IMO.

4. Somewhere, Nick Saban is saying “I told you so.”

Dabo will be on the ACC coaches call shortly. “Story developing…”