Clemson's Trevor Lawrence Says He Has 'Mild' Symptoms After COVID-19 Diagnosis
Oct 29, 2020
Clemson quarterback Trevor Lawrence (16) runs the ball during their game against Syracuse at Memorial Stadium in Clemson, S.C. on Oct. 24, 2020. (Ken Ruinard/Pool Photo via AP)
Clemson quarterback Trevor Lawrence, who has tested positive for COVID-19, wrote that his symptoms are "relatively mild" in a statement released Thursday:
Clemson football head coach Dabo Swinney previously announced that Lawrence, who is currently isolating, had tested positive for COVID-19 and would not be available for the Tigers' home game against Boston College on Saturday.
Per Matt Fortuna of The Athletic, Lawrence's positive COVID-19 test occurred Wednesday, leading to a potentially interesting situation in two weekends:
Source to @TheAthleticCFB: Trevor Lawrence's positive COVID-19 test was yesterday, presenting an intriguing scenario for Nov. 7: If everything goes smoothly between now and then, could Lawrence fly separately to Notre Dame on the day of the game? https://t.co/tMQ9B7spux
Lawrence pilots a 6-0 Tigers team that ranks No. 1 in the Associated Press poll. Under his watch, Clemson has scored 37 or more points in each of its six games and 48.2 points on average.
The junior has thrown 17 touchdowns to just two interceptions while completing 70.7 percent of his passes for 1,833 yards. He's rushed for four scores as well.
Freshman D.J. Uiagalelei is Clemson'sbackup quarterback. Per247Sports' composite, the 6'5", 245-pound pro-style signal-caller ranked 10th overall among all class of 2020 prospects and first in his position group. He has completed 12 of 19 passes for 102 yards in addition to 32 rushing yards and two touchdowns.
Clemson QB Trevor Lawrence Tests Positive for COVID-19, out vs. Boston College
Oct 29, 2020
Clemson quarterback Trevor Lawrence (16) makes a pass during an NCAA college football game against Syracuse in Clemson, S.C., on Saturday, Oct. 24, 2020. (Ken Ruinard/Pool Photo via AP)
Clemson quarterback Trevor Lawrence has been diagnosed with COVID-19 and will not be available for Saturday's game against Boston College.
Head coach Dabo Swinney announced the news on Thursday night, per Andrea Adelson of ESPN:
"Trevor has authorized us this evening to announce that he has tested positive for COVID-19 and is now in isolation. He is doing well with mild symptoms but will not be available for this week's game against Boston College. While we certainly will miss Trevor, this is an opportunity for other guys to step up and we’re excited about competing against a very good BC team on Saturday. Go Tigers."
Ross Dellenger and Pat FordeofSports Illustratednoted ACC protocols say players who test positive for the virus are out for 10 days.Dellengerpointed out that would mean missing the Notre Dame game if Lawrence tested positive on Thursday.
According to Dellenger, Lawrence was the only Tigers player to test positive during Wednesday's round of testing:
And again, for clarity, Lawrence is experiencing symptoms, though they are mild. Clemson is operating on CDC guidelines: 10-day clock begins at the onset of symptoms.
Clemson's football team had a COVID-19 outbreak during the summer before the season started when players returned to campus for voluntary workouts and were tested. Swinney praised the program's ability to handle the outbreak in August and said being on campus was the safest place for the players, per Matt Connolly of The State.
Clemson plays Boston College on Saturday before a highly anticipated game against Notre Dame on Nov. 7.
Lawrence is arguably the best college football player in the country and on the shortlist of Heisman Trophy contenders for the No. 1 team in the country. Through six games this year, he has completed 70.7 percent of his passes for 1,833 yards, 17 touchdowns and two interceptions.
He has little left to prove at the college level and has a College Football Playoff national championship and another appearance in the national title game through two full years as a starter.
Bleacher Report's Matt Miller projected him as the No. 1 overall pick in his latest mock draft in September, highlighting his ability to make plays with his legs and arm.
It is widely assumed Lawrence will leave the college ranks after this season, but he left some room for doubt when he told reporters on Tuesday, "My mindset has been that I'm going to move on. But who knows? There's a lot of things that could happen."
True freshman D.J. Uiagalelei is Clemson's backup and will likely start for Lawrence while he is sidelined.
Dabo Swinney Would Be 'Surprised' If Trevor Lawrence Returned to Clemson in 2021
Oct 29, 2020
Clemson coach Dabo Swinney celebrates with quarterback Trevor Lawrence after Clemson defeated Ohio State 29-23 in the Fiesta Bowl NCAA college football playoff semifinal Saturday, Dec. 28, 2019, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)
Clemson head football coach Dabo Swinney sounded like someone who is resigned to the fact top quarterback prospect Trevor Lawrence will be in the NFL next year but left the door open to the star signal-caller if he wants to return.
"I mean, we'll certainly let him stay if that's what he wants to do," Swinney said on SiriusXM (h/t Rich Cimini of ESPN). "But I'd be surprised if he's back with the Tigers next year, but who knows? You never know. I didn't think Christian Wilkins was coming back, but he did."
There isn't much left for Lawrence to prove at the collegiate level. In two full seasons as a starter, he led the Tigers to a College Football Playoff national championship and another appearance in the national title game all while skyrocketing up draft boards.
Bleacher Report'sMatt Millerprojected him as the No. 1 overall pick in a September mock draft.
"Smart evaluators are looking at what Lawrence does well," Miller wrote. "He's an impressive athlete at 6'6" and 220 pounds with room to fill out his lean frame. He's an accomplished and tough runner willing and able to beat defenses (see Ohio State) with his legs. But he's also a smart, savvy and crafty passer who rarely makes mistakes with his decision-making, clock management or ability to read the defense."
That sounds like someone who is ready for the next challenge, but he seemed to leave the door open to a return Tuesday.
"My mindset has been that I'm going to move on," Lawrencetold reporters. "But who knows? There's a lot of things that could happen."
His quote immediately led to speculation that going to the NFL if the 0-7 New York Jets have the No. 1 overall pick may not be the best path of long-term success for the quarterback. Instead, he could return to Clemson, compete for another championship and perhaps go No. 1 overall in the 2022 NFL draft:
The Bell divorce was inevitable. But the thing about the Jets is, they keep giving Trevor Lawrence reasons to stay in school. Or to pull an Eli and say "I'm coming out, but I'm not playing for you so don't draft me."
It is all just speculation at this point, and there is no guarantee it will even be the Jets picking at No. 1. For now, Lawrence is focusing on winning another championship for the Tigers and perhaps doing the one thing he has not done in the college game: capture a Heisman Trophy.
Clemson's Trevor Lawrence Leaves Door Open on Forgoing 2021 NFL Draft
Oct 27, 2020
FILE - In this Jan. 13, 2020, file photo, Clemson quarterback Trevor Lawrence passes against LSU during the second half of a NCAA College Football Playoff national championship game, in New Orleans. Lawrence is on a streak of 314 pass attempts without an interception, a run dating back to last Oct. 19 when he was picked off twice at Louisville in Clemson's 45-10 victory. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert, File)
While many expect Clemson star Trevor Lawrence to move on to greener pastures after the 2020 season, the Tigers quarterback hasn't ruled out returning for his senior year.
"My mindset has been that I'm going to move on," Lawrence told reporters Tuesday. "But who knows? There's a lot of things that could happen."
There's been plenty of talk lately about what Trevor Lawrence should do in regards to the @NFLDraft
Would he reconsider coming back to school? "My mindset has been that I'm gonna move on, but who knows? There's a lot of things that could happen." pic.twitter.com/Z8xJIMnJV7
As a true freshman, Lawrence helped lead Clemson to a national title, throwing for 674 yards and six touchdowns in the team's two College Football Playoff games. From that moment that season ended, he has been almost universally regarded as the No. 1 player in the 2021 draft class.
His 2020 performance is doing nothing to change that opinion. Through six games, Lawrence has thrown for 1,833 yards, 17 touchdowns and two interceptions.
However, one line of thinking has emerged with the 0-7 New York Jets on track to have the top pick next spring: Maybe Lawrence be better off at Clemson in 2021.
The Bell divorce was inevitable. But the thing about the Jets is, they keep giving Trevor Lawrence reasons to stay in school. Or to pull an Eli and say "I'm coming out, but I'm not playing for you so don't draft me."
The Jets have horribly mismanaged Sam Darnold's development. Within three years, he has gone from the quarterback of the future to somebody whomay not yielda first-round pick in a trade.
The dysfunctiongoes deeperthan head coach Adam Gase, too. The franchise has one winning record since 2010 and zero playoff appearances during that span, and New York hasn't had a true long-term solution at quarterback since Chad Pennington from 2000-07.
Nobody would blame Lawrence if he had genuine concerns about landing with the Jets.
Of course, his comments Tuesday probably had little relation to where he might wind up in the NFL. Even if his departure is presumed by many, affirmatively declaring his intentions for 2021 while Clemson is chasing another national title doesn't work toward anybody's benefit.
Clemson's Dabo Swinney Calls Out Negative Media Questions After Syracuse Win
Oct 24, 2020
Clemson head coach Dabo Swinney walks near the sideline during an NCAA college football game against Syracuse in Syracuse, S.C., on Saturday, Oct. 24, 2020. (Ken Ruinard/Pool Photo via AP)
The No. 1 Clemson Tigers struggled to put away the one-win Syracuse Orange on Saturday, leading just 27-21 late in the third quarter before winning 47-21 after scoring 20 straight points.
After the game, head coach Dabo Swinney expressed displeasure with questions he perceived as "negative" following his 6-0 team's victory.
"I just want to make sure I'm at the right press conference here. We did win the game, I think. Am I in the right spot? You don't usually score 47 points if you don't have the right energy. We made some mistakes. It's not energy when you don't make a certain play, or snap the ball over a head. Just didn't execute, but at the end of the day, it's not easy to win.
"There's a lot of teams out there that would have lost this game with some of the mistakes that we made. We won the game by almost four touchdowns. I'm not getting any questions about 'Proud of you guys for winning the game.' It's a lot of negative questions. You're not going to get any negative stuff from me."
Grace Raynor of The Athletic, who covers Clemson, tweeted about Swinney's comments afterward:
I understand Clemson won by 26, but it's not the job of journalists to just ask him positive questions. There are plenty of people on this beat who will, but we're supposed to be objective 🙃 https://t.co/DVducUZdiX
One can look at this game from a glass-half-full or -half-empty perspective.
The optimistic side would point to Clemson dominating the first and fourth quarters en route to outscoring Syracuse 30-0 during those 15-minute frames.
The pessimistic side would focus on ugly second and third quarters, which included a pick-six of Clemson quarterback Trevor Lawrence, five straight drives that ended without points and Syracuse possessing the ball down just 27-21 late in the third quarter with a chance to take the lead.
Clemson did win by 26 points and was never in serious danger of losing, but the Tigers ultimately struggled to put away a one-win team at home.
For whatever reason, Syracuse has proved to be a thorn in Clemson's side. The Orange beat the Tigers 27-23 for Clemson's only regular-season loss in 2017. In 2018, Syracuse nearly picked off Clemson on the road before losing 27-23 during a year where the Tigers won the national championship.
Clemson didn't have issues against the Orange in 2019 (41-6 win), but that wasn't the case in 2020.
The Tigers, like any other great team, are not immune to subpar games.
The difference between Clemson and other teams is that the Tigers have been able to rebound and excel after such performances.
The Tigers ran the table throughout 2018 despite the Syracuse loss and reached the College Football Playoff National Championship in 2020 despite nearly losing to a 7-6 North Carolina team 21-20 in September 2019.
Ultimately, this Clemson team is still undefeated and holds a point differential of plus-199 through six wins. This matchup could simply be a blip on the radar en route to Swinney's third national title.
The 6-0 Clemson Tigers will host Boston College on Oct. 31 at noon ET.
Trevor Lawrence, No. 1 Clemson Overcome Sluggish Stretch to Top Syracuse
Oct 24, 2020
Clemson safety Lannden Zanders (36) pressures Syracuse quarterback Rex Culpepper (17) during an NCAA college football game in Clemson, S.C., on Saturday, Oct. 24, 2020. (Ken Ruinard/Pool Photo via AP)
The top-ranked Clemson Tigers overcame an upset bid to earn a 47-21 victory over the Syracuse Orange on Saturday at Memorial Stadium in South Carolina.
Clemson, led by Heisman Trophy contender Trevor Lawrence, improved to 6-0. The Tigers have completely overwhelmed the competition, outscoring their opponents 289-81 with at least 37 points in every game.
Syracuse dropped to 1-5. Three of its five losses have come against ranked opponents. The Orange's last win over a ranked foe came against the West Virginia Mountaineers in December 2018.
Notable Stats
QB Trevor Lawrence (CLEM): 27-of-43 for 289 yards, 2 TD, 1 INT
QB Rex Culpepper (CUSE): 10-of-26 for 175 yards, 1 TD, 3 INT
WR Nykeim Johnson (CUSE): 1 catch for 83 yards, 1 TD
TE Davis Allen (CLEM): 1 catch for 17 yards, 1 TD
DB Andrew Booth Jr. (CLEM): 5 tackles, 1 FR, 1 TD
DB Garrett Williams (CUSE): 8 tackles, 1 INT, 1 TD
Lawrence Lacks Precision, Takes Hard Hits
Lawrence came into the contest with eye-popping numbers through five games. He'd completed 73 percent of his throws for 1,544 yards with 15 touchdowns and one interception. He also had four rushing scores.
He wasn't nearly as effective Saturday.
The 21-year-old top NFL prospect connected on just eight of his first 18 attempts. While there were a couple of drops in that group, he also was off target on multiple throws. He appeared to find a rhythm in the final drive of the first half leading to a field goal, but it didn't carry over after halftime.
In addition, Lawrence took several hard hits throughout the game. The most notable came when the Tigers ran a trick play that saw him catch a pass from wide receiver Amari Rodgers, which was underthrown and forced him to run back into the middle of the field, where he got crushed.
He never showed any signs of injury, but it was concerning to see him take so many clean hits.
The Tigers pulled away over the game's final 20 minutes after the Orange kept them within striking distance for a majority of the contest, in large part because Clemson couldn't put together long drives.
I know Trevor Lawrence is the “greatest prospect since (insert Hall of Fame QB)” but today he looks very ordinary. And that is with vastly superior talent than the opponent. Likely just an off day when you are 46 point favorite #NFL#Clemson#Syracuse
All told, the final numbers for Lawrence and the Tigers offense weren't terrible, and the contest probably won't have much of an effect on his Heisman chances.
It wasn't his sharpest performance, however, and a more formidable opponent could have pulled off the upset. He'll need to get back on track with a tougher set of games on the horizon.
Syracuse Allows Upset Opportunity to Slip Away
The Orange entered Saturday's game as a massive underdog, which makes the result no surprise, but there were several openings to spark an upset bid.
After falling behind 17-0, Syracuse got on the board with a Sean Tucker touchdown run. It then secured a stop via a Clemson missed field goal and started the ensuing drive with a 21-yard dash by Tucker.
There was a feeling in that moment the Orange were about to surge. Instead, the drive quickly fizzled out.
The same thing happened after a pick-six by Garrett Williams late in the second quarter that once again brought the Cuse back within 10. They allowed Clemson to drive 56 yards in just over a minute to kick a field goal as time expired in the first half.
An 83-yard touchdown catch by Nykeim Johnson midway through the third quarter gave the Orange one final chance to capitalize on a lackluster showing from the Tigers.
Syracuse had two opportunities to take the lead after that score, but the first possession ended in a punt and the second was a strip-sack of Culpepper that Andrew Booth Jr. picked up and ran 21 yards to restore Clemson's two-touchdown edge.
The final score is deceiving. The Orange played light years better after falling behind by 17, and the game's result still hung in the balance until early in the fourth quarter.
Syracuse also provided somewhat of a blueprint to keep Lawrence in check. It got pressure with only four or five rushers, which allow the defense to play a lot of coverage, forcing him to throw into tight windows at the intermediate level, and it also took away the deep ball.
Clemson's talent advantage won out in the end, but the Orange will lament the missed opportunity.
What's Next?
The Tigers and Orange both return to action on Halloween next Saturday.
Clemson will once again be a massive favorite when it hosts the Boston College Eagles inside Death Valley. Kickoff is scheduled for 12 p.m. ET on ABC.
Syracuse returns home to the Carrier Dome for a clash with the Wake Forest Demon Deacons. It's also a noon ET start on the ACC Network.
Trevor Lawrence Is the QB Prospect Your NFL Franchise Has Been Dreaming of
Oct 17, 2020
Clemson quarterback Trevor Lawrence (16) is congratulated after Clemson defeated Ohio State 29-23 in the Fiesta Bowl NCAA college football playoff semifinal Saturday, Dec. 28, 2019, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)
Enjoy it. Every touchdown pass. Every perfectly placed ball. Every scramble where his long, blond hair takes flight. Appreciate every single one of Trevor Lawrence's collegiate moments while you can, because he won't be ours much longer.
Appreciate it. The No. 1 high school football player in America is the No. 1 player in college football—a quarterback worth tanking for. He was an NFL prospect by his junior year in high school, and now he's a player that will change an NFL franchise's future.
Embrace it. He looks the part at 6'6" and 220 pounds. His right arm is powerful and accurate. He can run. He can read defenses. He has fire—emotion that shows up when it's required. The list of pros drastically outweighs the list of cons, and if you're a fan of a struggling, hopeless NFL team, you're plenty aware of all of this by now.
#TankForTrevor is a movement you can get behind. It's perfect, really. If you're an NFL team that is part of this campaign—looking directly at you, New York Jets—it could be more than that.
But Lawrence isn't perfect. On Saturday against Georgia Tech, he threw an interception. Gasp.
It was his first interception of the season and his first in almost a full calendar year—a stretch that lasted 366 throws. It wasn't quite an ACC record; former NC State quarterback Russell Wilson went 379 throws without a pick. But he was close.
"I think I played well today," Lawrence said after the game. "That's the biggest thing coming away from the game; I feel like mentally I was prepared. I think I progressed well, went through my reads, took care of the ball for the most part.
"That one play, even though it was an interception, I feel like my decision was still OK. We had one-on-one and that guy just made a good play. From that standpoint, it's going to happen in football, especially in the offense we run. We take a lot of shots. It's going to happen, but I'm really happy with the way our whole offense played today."
This was the lone blemish. In fact, as if you weren't properly convinced over the past few seasons, this was Lawrence's moment. He threw for 404 yards and five touchdowns, both career bests, and he played only one drive in the second half because the outcome was already decided. The final score, a video game-esque 73-7 Clemson rout, could've been much worse had Lawrence been asked to do more.
For the season, Lawrence has scored 19 touchdowns (15 passing). He's completed more than 70 percent of his passes in all but one game. He's averaging more than 300 yards passing per game.
For his career, Lawrence is still 30-1. He's lost just one game—last year's national championship to LSU—but is unbeaten otherwise. Not perfect, but close to it.
When he arrived at Clemson, he was expected, perhaps unfairly, to take the baton from former quarterback Deshaun Watson and elevate the Tigers to another level. He has done this with a certain grace and brilliance that has outperformed even the wildest expectations.
It's not supposed to be this easy. The No. 1 football player in America is not supposed to arrive at a thriving powerhouse and win a national championship in his first year. The resume is not supposed to be this clean.
The way Lawrence has met and exceeded expectations feels almost LeBron-like. A larger-than-life talent who has become everything one hoped he would one day become. Playing the most important and critiqued position in all of sports, Lawrence has made greatness feel natural.
One might even say it's almost boring. Methodical. Predictable. We accept his greatness. With an expectation of blowouts in many of Clemson's games, his greatness is likely being taken for granted. But there are moments, as was the case on Saturday, when the throws and the output are so great that it simply can't be ignored.
With each touchdown pass, a new movement appears. While Lawrence and Clemson are chasing a national championship, the NFL draft process, which knows no offseason or downtime, is chasing him.
Lawrence has not cooled this talk. He's made his future known. "I'm graduating in December," he said earlier this year. "[I'm] planning on this being my last year."
As if there were any doubt, the pro buzz has already kicked into overdrive. Each Sunday, as the league's bottom-feeders slosh through another weekend, Lawrence's influence grows. The wait for one lucky NFL team grows shorter. His potential impact at a level of football he is still months from being eligible for takes shape.
It's understandable. If you're the Jets or the Giants or another floundering franchise in search of something, he is that something. Lawrence is hope and greatness and optimism bottled up in one long-haired prospect.
He represents a parachute out of inefficiency. He is a player whose superhero billing feels almost appropriate.
Over the past two-plus years, Lawrence has shown the world that he is as advertised. Only now, he appears to be getting better. Sharper. Stronger. Bigger. The days until his NFL arrival are shrinking. The combination of talent and desperation make for an intoxicating cocktail.
But don't take what's happening for granted. Don't let the draft obsession derail the final stretch of one of the greatest quarterbacks college football has ever seen.
Think big. If you're a fan of an NFL franchise in need of a jolt, keep dreaming. But appreciate the journey. Celebrate each throw. Don't fixate on the future when the now is close to perfection, with an interception sprinkled in every now and then.
Celebrate every moment while it happens when it happens, because it won't be long now.
Trevor Lawrence Throws 5 1st-Half TDs as No. 1 Clemson Routs Georgia Tech
Oct 17, 2020
FILE - In this Jan. 13, 2020, file photo, Clemson quarterback Trevor Lawrence passes against LSU during the second half of a NCAA College Football Playoff national championship game, in New Orleans. Lawrence is on a streak of 314 pass attempts without an interception, a run dating back to last Oct. 19 when he was picked off twice at Louisville in Clemson's 45-10 victory. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert, File)
The No. 1 Clemson Tigers went on the road and throttled the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets 73-7Saturday at Bobby Dodd Stadium in Atlanta.
Clemson junior quarterback Trevor Lawrence further proved why he is a leading Heisman Trophy candidate and the favorite to go No. 1 overall in the 2021 NFL draft, as he threw for fivetouchdowns in the convincing victory.
Clemson dominated in essentially every facet, as it had more first downs (29-7) and more total yards (671-204) and forced threeturnovers.
The Tigers improved to 5-0 overall and 4-0 in ACC play, while the Yellow Jackets fell to 2-3 overall and 2-2 in the conference.
Notable Stats
Trevor Lawrence, QB, CLEM: 24/32 for 404 YDS, 5 TD, 1 INT
Travis Etienne, RB, CLEM: 11 CAR for 44 YDS, 1 TD; 2 REC for 29 YDS
Amari Rodgers, WR, CLEM: 6 REC for 161 YDS, 2 TD
Jeff Sims, QB, GT: 6/13 for 81 YDS, 1 TD, 1 INT
Jahmyr Gibbs, RB, GT: 15 CAR for 64 YDS; 3 REC for 23 YDS
Jalen Camp, WR, GT: 1 REC for 59 YDS, 1 TD
Lawrence Bolsters Heisman Case in Dominant Showing
Saturday's contest was viewed as a potential stat-padding game for Lawrence, and there is no question that he did his numbers and his Heisman Trophy candidacy a great service.
In the first half alone, Lawrence went 20-of-25 for 391 yards and five touchdowns, which helped give Clemson a 52-7 lead at the break.
Lawrence opened with a five-yard touchdown pass to Cornell Powell in the first quarter, but the Yellow Jackets answered with a touchdown of their own. From then on, though, it was all Lawrence and the Tigers.
Speedy wide receiver Amari Rodgers got behind the Georgia Tech secondary, and Lawrence made them pay with a perfect throw for an 83-yard touchdown:
After a field-goal drive, Lawrence made his only real mistake of the game when he threw an interception with pressure in his face. It was not only Lawrence's first pick of the season, but his first interception thrown in more than one calendar year.
The miscue seemed to motivate Lawrence, however, as he was essentially perfect for the remainder of the first half.
Clemson scored an impressive five touchdowns in the second quarter alone, three of which were touchdown passes by Lawrence to tight end Davis Allen, wide receiver Frank Ladson Jr. and Rodgers:
TIGHT END TOUCHDOWN!
Trevor with a beauty of a pitch fake and throw to Davis Allen for a 34-yd TD!
Lawrence had never thrown as many as four touchdown passes in the first half of a game during his collegiate career, but he made it five Saturday.
Albert Breer of The MMQB was one of the many who were taken aback by Lawrence's uncanny ability to pick apart yet another Power 5 team with relative ease:
With Clemson dominating the game, Lawrence didn't play all the way through, which has become a common theme for him over the past few years.
Even though he was taken out of the contest in the thirdquarter, Lawrence put up monster numbers and cemented his status as the premier quarterback in college football.
Sims Shows Flashes in Blowout Loss for GT
Georgia Tech freshman quarterback Jeff Sims' numbers paled in comparison to what Lawrence was able to do Saturday, but there is reason for optimism moving forward.
A game against the formidable Clemson defense is a tough assignment for any quarterback, let alone a freshman. It was by far the biggest test of Sims' young career thus far, and he likely learned a lot.
The highlight of the day for Sims and the Yellow Jackets unquestionably came in the first quarter when he hit wide receiver Jalen Camp for a 59-yard touchdown to tie the game at 7-7:
Sims and the Georgia Tech offense didn't accomplish much beyond that, but the ability to make that type of play against arguably the best defense in college football is something that should serve Sims and the Jackets well moving forward.
SportsTalkATL.com offered some praise for Sims, as he has shown flashes at a position that hasn't been productive for Georgia Tech from a passing perspective in many years:
Jeff Sims is a good quarterback. I don’t think I’ve said that about a Tech QB... ever?
Sims' numbers prior to Saturday left something to be desired, as he had thrown for five touchdowns and eight interceptions, but he also rushed for 251 yards and three touchdowns. Clemson's dominant defensive line took Sims' legs completely out of the equation, but they will be a big factor for him moving forward.
It is clear that Sims and the Yellow Jackets have some growing pains ahead of them, but getting the opportunity to play against the best team in college football is something that should better prepare them for the challenges they will face the rest of the way.
What's Next?
Clemson will be a huge favorite again next week and a likely candidate to move to 6-0 when it hosts the Syracuse Orange.
Georgia Tech has a tricky game on tap next week, as it will attempt to get back on track on the road against the Boston College Eagles.
Video: Clemson's Trevor Lawrence Throws for 391 Yards, 5 TDs in 1st Half vs. GT
Oct 17, 2020
Clemson's Trevor Lawrence throws a pass during the first half of an NCAA college football game against Florida State Saturday, Oct. 12, 2019, in Clemson, S.C. (AP Photo/Richard Shiro)
Clemson quarterback Trevor Lawrence turned in another dominant showing Saturday, and he needed only one half of football to do it.
The junior signal-caller went 20-of-25 for 391 yards with five touchdowns and one interception in the opening half against Georgia Tech:
Lawrence had never thrown as many as four touchdown passes in a half, but his five scores helped give Clemson a 52-7 lead at halftime.
The interception was Lawrence's first of the season and first in over one calendar year, but it didn't deter him from going off, as he threw three second-quarter touchdowns after his only miscue.
Of his five touchdown tosses, two were to wide receiver Amari Rodgers, one was to wideout Cornell Powell, another was to tight end Davis Allen and the last was to receiver Frank Ladson Jr.
Lawrence played one series in the third quarter before getting pulled and finished the game 24-of-32 passing for 404 yards with five touchdowns and one pick.
In four games this season entering Saturday's contest, Lawrence had completed 72.4 percent of his passes for 1,140 yards, 10 touchdowns and no interceptions.
Now, Lawrence has over 1,500 passing yards and 15 touchdowns in just five games, and there is no question that he is in the thick of the Heisman Trophy race.
Clemson's overall dominance and ability to blow teams out is helpful to Lawrence's Heisman case in some ways, but it can also be detrimental since he isn't often asked to play a full game against lower-level opponents.
If Lawrence continues to play like he did Saturday, though, it will be difficult for voters to ignore what he accomplishes while he is on the field.
FILE - In this Jan. 13, 2020, file photo, Clemson quarterback Trevor Lawrence passes against LSU during the second half of a NCAA College Football Playoff national championship game, in New Orleans. Lawrence is on a streak of 314 pass attempts without an interception, a run dating back to last Oct. 19 when he was picked off twice at Louisville in Clemson's 45-10 victory. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert, File)
No. 1 Clemson took down No. 7 Miami 42-17 at home in Memorial Stadium on Saturday behind 222 scrimmage yards and two touchdowns from Travis Etienne, who rushed for 149 yards on 17 carries and caught eight Trevor Lawrence passes for 73 more yards.
Clemson led 21-3 late in the first half off a pair of Lawrence touchdown passes to Braden Galloway and a two-yard Etienne touchdown run to cap a 99-yard scoring drive.
However, the Hurricanes gained a new lease on life after Jared Harrison-Hunte blocked Clemson's first half-ending 61-yard field-goal attempt. DJ Ivey picked up the loose ball and scored a touchdown as the half expired.
Clemson regrouped and dominated in the third quarter, though, as Etienne scored on a 72-yard scamper before Lawrence punched one in from three yards out to help give the Tigers a 35-10 lead. The two teams traded touchdowns before the game ended.
Clemson improved to 4-0 on the season. Miami fell to 3-1.
The Tigers will have gone three calendar years since losing a regular-season game when the calendar turns to Tuesday. Clemson fell to Syracuse on Oct. 13, 2017, and has only lost two postseason matchups since, going 39-2 overall.
Clemson out-gained Miami 550-210, with Etienne out-pacing the Hurricanes by himself with 12 extra yards.
The Tigers possessed the ball for 38:23 compared to Miami's 21:37 time of possession, and they gained 34 first downs to Miami's nine.
Miami committed nearly twice as many penalties (15 to eight) and committed two more turnovers (three to one).
The Hurricanes also didn't score an offensive touchdown until there was just 8:31 left in the game.
The stats don't tell the whole story, however. Clemson scored at will and played dominant defense, but the team seemingly did whatever it wanted with relative ease and perfect execution.
Galloway could have walked into the end zone with this cavalcade of blockers in front of him:
TOUCHDOWN TIGERS!
Look at the convoy of offensive linemen on this genius play call...
Credit to Miami for fighting all night in the face of adversity, but Clemson somehow found a way to come out on the right end of impossible situations, like when the Hurricanes clogged up the gaps on a goal-line stand only for Etienne to pivot and charge around the mass of players for a score:
How many times have you thought a play was going nowhere and then Travis Etienne somehow turned it into a big play?
That gave Etienne the opportunity to do more damage, and he responded with a 72-yard scamper around the edge and down the sideline thanks in part to great blocking up front:
The score may not reflect it, but Miami is a very good, resilient and tough team. The 'Canes outscored UAB, Florida State and Louisville 130-58 over their first three games. Granted, those teams are not off to good starts, but Miami left no doubt about its dominance on the field.
The problem is this Clemson team might be the best in the Dabo Swinney era, featuring peak performances from future NFL stars like Lawrence, Etienne and others. We might be seeing nights like this from now through the end of the College Football Playoff at this rate, especially given the defense's epic performance.
Coach Swinney on the defense: “They were relentless. We had a good scheme tonight. We did an awesome job, disrupted them all night. Sacks, turnovers. It was a turnover fest in the second half.” pic.twitter.com/3n0jkb7Zuf
Clemson's biggest test before a presumed postseason berth will be at No. 5 Notre Dame on Nov. 7. Until then, the Tigers will continue their ACC schedule in hopes of completing their second undefeated season in three years and third championship campaign in five.
What's Next?
Clemson will visit Georgia Tech on Oct. 17 at noon ET in Atlanta's Bobby Dodd Stadium. Miami will host Pittsburgh in Hard Rock Stadium on the same day and time.
