Trevor Lawrence's Fiancee Appears to Confirm QB Will Enter 2021 NFL Draft
Jan 2, 2021
Clemson quarterback Trevor Lawrence passes against Ohio State during the first half of the Sugar Bowl NCAA college football game Friday, Jan. 1, 2021, in New Orleans. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)
Anderson University soccer midfielder Marissa Mowry, who is engaged to Clemson quarterback Trevor Lawrence, published an Instagram post Saturday that appeared to indicate the signal-caller will leave school and enter the 2021 NFL draft.
— Boom or Bust: The Draft Show (@BoomOrBustDraft) January 2, 2021
Mowry's post ended as follows: "THANK YOU so much Clemson family for these amazing years and the love + support. This place will be missed! Here's to the many more ups and downs and figuring it all out together."
Lawrence's 2020 season ended Friday after the Tigers lost 49-28 to Ohio State in the Sugar Bowl. He is widely considered the No. 1 overall prospect should he officially declare for the draft.
If Lawrence's Clemson career is over, then he'll finish his three-year stint as one of the most decorated, accomplished quarterbacks in recent college football history.
He accounted for 108 touchdowns (90 passing, 18 rushing) and led Clemson to a 38-2 record while he was under center. The three-year starter led the Tigers to the College Football Playoff in each of his three seasons, winning it all two years ago while guiding Clemson to a perfect 15-0 mark.
Clemson entered the CFP National Championship Game with a 14-0 record last year before losing to undefeated LSU. The Tigers' loss on Friday was their first this year with Lawrence calling signals.
Barring a shocking development, Lawrence will likely head to Jacksonville, which needs a long-term answer at quarterback.
The 2021 NFL draft will begin Thursday, April 29.
5-Star OT Tristan Leigh Commits to Clemson over LSU, Florida, More
Jan 2, 2021
The Clemson Tigers have boosted the 2021 recruiting class with the addition of offensive tackle Tristan Leigh.
Leigh announced his commitment to the school Saturday as part of the All-American Bowl Declaration Show.
When asked on the show about why he chose to play for head coach Dabo Swinney at Clemson, Leigh pointed to the togetherness that the Tigers play with.
The 5-star recruit is considered one of the best linemen in the country, rated the No. 4 offensive tackle in the 2021 class and No. 11overall player, per 247Sports' composite rankings.
At 6'5", 270 pounds, Leigh has an excellent frame that will allow him to build muscle and become an even more imposing player in the future.
Of course, the Virginia native is already an imposing player with excellent athleticism for his size.
He earned MVP honors at the National Combine in January, earning praise as the unanimous No. 1 prospect in a camp filled with other high-profile prospects, per Chad Ricardo of NBC Sports.
"When plays start, I flip a switch and go full speed 'til the whistle blows," Leigh said. "I like to play really physical. In football, if you're really physical when you go at someone, 75 percent of the time, they won't want to play with you anymore."
This attitude will help him at the next level as he tries to make an impact with his new team.
Out ofdozens of offersfrom around the country, including some of the top programs in college football, Leigh decided to play ball at Clemson.
The Tigers have developed several high-profile offensive linemen over the past decade, giving them the ability to win in the trenches against top competition in the ACC and nationally. Though the team already has impressive depth at the position, Leigh could see early playing time at the college level.
If he lives up to expectations, the tackle could be one of the best in the conference before too long.
Dabo Swinney on Ranking Ohio State No. 11: 'No, I Don't Regret Any of That'
Jan 2, 2021
Clemson head coach Dabo Swinney, left, and Ohio State head coach Ryan Day talks before the Sugar Bowl NCAA college football game Friday, Jan. 1, 2021, in New Orleans. (AP Photo/Butch Dill)
Clemson head coach Dabo Swinney said he did not regret placing Ohio State at No. 11 on his Amway Coaches Poll ranking after his team lost to the Buckeyes 49-28 in the Sugar Bowl on Friday.
OSU entered Saturday at No. 3 in the coaches poll.
Clemson had no answers for the Ohio State offense, falling behind 35-14 at halftime. Quarterback Justin Fields threw for six touchdowns, and running back Trey Sermon added 193 rushing yards.
The Tigers scored four touchdowns, but the offense went dormant for much of the final 50 minutes. Clemson scored two touchdowns in the first 10 minutes of the game but did not find the end zone again until midway through the third quarter.
Ohio State will face No. 1 Alabama in the College Football Playoff National Championship on Jan. 11.
Clemson OC Tony Elliott Won't Travel to Sugar Bowl Due to COVID-19 Protocols
Dec 30, 2020
The Clemson team raises its helmets in a rally cry at the conclusion of warm-ups before an NCAA college football game against North Carolina in Chapel Hill, N.C., Saturday, Sept. 28, 2019. (AP Photo/Chris Seward)
Clemson will be without offensive coordinator Tony Elliott for Friday's Sugar Bowl clash with Ohio State. The school announced Wednesday that Elliott will miss the game because of COVID-19 health and safety protocols.
According to Yahoo Sports' Pete Thamel, the Tigers are tentatively looking at passing game coordinator and quarterbacks coach Brandon Streeter to call the plays on offense.
This is the second big game in which Clemson will be without a notable offensive figure. The team's lone loss to Notre Dame came as D.J. Uiagalelei was filling in for Trevor Lawrence.
However, ESPN's David M. Hale noted the Tigers have responded positively to sudden setbacks ahead of the College Football Playoff in recent years:
Clemson playoff week surprises:
3 players sent home in 2015 2 days before Orange Bowl, beat Oklahoma 37-17
3 players suspended for PEDs in 2018, 3 days before Cotton Bowl, beat Notre Dame 30-3
So, this Tony Elliott news should result in about a 25-point Clemson win.
Elliott is widely considered one of the top coordinators in college football. He won the Broyles Award, handed out to the best assistant coach, in 2017, and he's regularly linked to whatever prominent head coaching gig opens up.
Clemson is averaging 507.6 yards and 44.9 points per game, both top-10 marks in the FBS, and the fact that the offense went for 473 yards against the Fighting Irish without Lawrence is a testament to Elliott's coaching.
The top FBS programs have a deep well of coaches, and Streeter has been on the staff since 2014. He's familiar with the scheme. Still, Elliott's absence is likely to be felt.
Anna makes a great point here. In addition to being a brilliant play-caller, Tony Elliott's demeanour is a major reason why Clemson's offense is so successful. He's incredibly calm, very thoughtful and never allows himself to get too high/low. Always very chill. https://t.co/oftzDkV1Vh
According to Thamel, Clemson is optimistic Elliott will be back for the CFP National Championship on Jan. 11. The No. 2 Tigers will first have to get past the No. 3 Buckeyes at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome in New Orleans.
Dabo Swinney on Criticism of Ohio State Ranking: 'What Universe Am I Living In?'
Dec 26, 2020
Clemson coach Dabo Swinney signals to his players during the second quarter against Notre Dame in an NCAA college football game Saturday, Nov. 7, 2020, in South Bend, Ind. (Matt Cashore/Pool Photo via AP)
No. 2 Clemson head coach Dabo Swinney gave the No. 3 Ohio State Buckeyes plenty of bulletin board material ahead of their College Football Playoff semifinal when he ranked OSU at No. 11 on his coaches poll ballot.
Now Swinney is wondering what the big deal is.
Speaking to ESPN's Tom Rinaldi in a Saturday interview, Swinney said the ranking wasn't personal but that he wanted to reward teams for playing nine or more games (h/t 247Sports' Garrett Stepien):
"Obviously, they're a great team. They're plenty good enough and talented enough to beat us and good enough to win the national championship. But in my opinion, I don't think that it's right that three teams have to play 13 games to win it all and one team has to play eight. What universe am I living in? And it has nothing to with them. It was about qualifying. And I didn't think they were qualified, based on the number of games, versus all these other teams. ... In my opinion—Texas A&M, Florida, Oklahoma, Cincinnati—they got punished for playing more games."
The coach can keep defending himself as much as he wants, but unless Clemson blows Ohio State out on New Year's Day, justifying his ballot is always going to pit him against Buckeyes fans. Both sides will have an answer to whether Ohio State's CFP ranking was warranted soon enough.
Clemson DC Brent Venables Reportedly Staying amid Auburn Head Coach Rumors
Dec 22, 2020
FILE- In this Dec. 31, 2013, file photo, Clemson defensive coordinator Brent Venables talks to the media during an NCAA college football news conference in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. Venables said the Clemson defense worked too hard to get to No. 1 to give up simply because it lost eight starters, Wednesday, March 4, 2015. (AP Photo/J Pat Carter, File)
Despite speculation that he was the subject of interest from Auburn for its head-coaching vacancy, Brent Venables will remain at Clemson.
Pete Thamel of Yahoo Sports reported that Venables informed Clemson officials that he will stay on as defensive coordinator next season.
John Talty and Matt Zenitzof AL.com previously reported Venables spoke with Auburn on Monday, but the "expectation" was the 50-year-old would stay at Clemson.
"Venables has two sons, Tyler and Jake, currently playing at Clemson and makes $2.4 million annually as Dabo Swinney’s defensive coordinator," Talty and Zenitz wrote.
Per USA Today, Venables' $2.4 million salary this season ranked third among all assistant coaches in the country. Only Alabama offensive coordinator Steve Sarkisian and Auburn defensive coordinator Kevin Steele made more at $2.5 million each.
Venables has been defensive coordinator for Dabo Swinney since 2012. He added the title of assistant head coach to his resume in 2018. The Tigers haven't finished worse than 11th inscoring defensesince 2015.
Auburn is searching for a new head coach after firing Gus Malzahn on Dec. 13. The move came after the team went 6-4 in 2020, its seventh straight season with at least four losses. Steele will coach the Tigers in the Citrus Bowl against Northwestern on Jan. 1.
Clemson's Dabo Swinney Ranked Ohio State 11th in Final Amway Coaches Poll
Dec 21, 2020
Clemson head coach Dabo Swinney arrives before a NCAA College Football Playoff national championship game against LSU, Monday, Jan. 13, 2020, in New Orleans. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)
No. 2 Clemson will face No. 3 Ohio State in the College Football Playoff semifinals, although head coach Dabo Swinney doesn't think the Buckeyes are even a top-10 team.
In the final Amway Coaches Poll, Swinney put Ohio State at No. 11 in his ballot:
Always interesting to look through the final coaches’ poll ballots. Dabo apparently doesn’t think much of the @OhioStateFB team he’s preparing to face in the CFP. pic.twitter.com/wwAqPKYfq9
The argument for the ranking stems from the Buckeyes' limited schedule because of the COVID-19 pandemic, sitting at 6-0 after winning the Big Ten title game. Swinney claimed his players had a tougher run on the way to a 10-1 record, via ESPN's Mark Schlabach:
"I think the games matter. The mental and physical toll of a season — there's nobody out there that would say that somebody who's played 11 games versus somebody who's played six is better physically or something like that because it's a long season. We're going on Week 21. These guys have had no break. It's been a grind, not just football-wise, but the mental challenge and the personal sacrifice and commitment that everybody's had to make to be able to play and continue to play. It's been incredible."
Though Swinney had Ohio State lower than anyone else, seven other coaches kept Ohio State out of the top four in the final poll, per Schlabach. Alabama coach Nick Saban rated the Buckeyes fifth overall.
Ohio native LeBron James was one of many questioning the low ranking:
Ohio State will get a chance to prove its inclusion in the College Football Playoff on the field at the Allstate Sugar Bowl on Jan. 1.
Dabo Swinney: 'Crying Shame' If Clemson's Trevor Lawrence Doesn't Win Heisman
Dec 19, 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)
College football's politicking season is underway, with Clemson head coach Dabo Swinney making the case for Trevor Lawrence to win the 2020 Heisman Trophy.
Speaking after the Tigers' 34-10 win over Notre Dame in the ACC Championship Game, Swinney told reporters it "would be a crying shame" if his star quarterback didn't win the sport's most prestigious award.
"If you watch college football and you don't know that this is the best player in the country, I don't know what you are looking at," Swinney added.
PerFanDuel SportsBook, Alabama teammates Mac Jones (-160, bet $160 to win $100) and Devonta Smith (+200) are the current betting favorites to win the Heisman. Lawrence checks in fourth at +2500, well behind Florida quarterback Kyle Trask (+800).
Swinney has picked an opportune time to vouch for Lawrence. The presumptive No. 1 pick in the 2021 NFL draft had 412 total yards and three touchdowns to help the Tigers avenge their loss to the Fighting Irish on Nov. 7.
Lawrence was unable to play in that first meeting aftertesting positivefor COVID-19. He had to sit out two games as a result of that diagnosis before returning on Nov. 28 against Pittsburgh.
Despite missing those games, Lawrence finished the regular season with 2,431 passing yards, 20 touchdowns, three interceptions and a 69.2 completion percentage. No Clemson player has ever won the Heisman Trophy.
The finalists for the 2020 Heisman Trophy will be announced Dec. 24.
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Trevor Lawrence Dazzles as No. 3 Clemson Beats No. 2 Notre Dame to Win ACC Title
Dec 19, 2020
Clemson quarterback Trevor Lawrence (16) warms up before the start of the Atlantic Coast Conference championship NCAA college football game, Saturday, Dec. 19, 2020, in Charlotte, N.C. (AP Photo/Brian Blanco)
Notre Dame may have come away with the win the first time it played Clemson this season, but with the consensus No. 1 pick in the 2021 NFL draft and multiple others back on the field after missing the first meeting because of COVID-19 protocols or injuries, the Tigers claimed the ACC Championship for the sixth year in a row with a 34-10 victory at Bank of America Stadium on Saturday.
Trevor Lawrence led the way for Clemson, which finishes the season at 10-1, with 322 yards on 25-of-36 passing and 90 rushing yards, with a rushing score and two touchdown passes.
TOUCHDOWN TREVOR!@Trevorlawrencee with a 34-yard rushing TD to put the Tigers up, 31-3!
Ian Book didn't have as much luck for 10-1 Notre Dame, appearing in its first conference championship in school history. Book was sacked six times, completing 20 of 28 passes without a touchdown.
Notre Dame's lone touchdown came on a 21-yard rush from running back Chris Tyree.
Lawrence wasn't the only player who missed the regular-season matchup against Notre Dame, and part of Clemson's success was due to the return of linebacker James Skalski.
The 6'0", 240-pound graduate student, who became the first player ever to appear in five ACC Championship Games, missed three games over a five-week span this season while dealing with a groin injury. At the time, head coach Dabo Swinney admitted that the absence of Skalski, who he referred to as the "heart and soul" of the Clemson defense, was "a pretty big loss."
He returned Nov. 28 against Pittsburgh and made six tackles, but he exited the next week's game against Virginia Tech after one series. He showed no signs of injury in the ACC Championship while helping Clemson keep Notre Dame at bay.
For the game, he recorded five tackles with a sack and a hurry on Book.
Notre Dame Couldn't Convert
Entering Saturday, the Fighting Irish were the seventh-ranked team in the country when it came to third-down conversions, with a 51.4 conversion percentage. Against the Tigers, they started strong, converting on both of their first two attempts. They didn't convert another third down throughout the first half.
By the end of the game, the Irish had gone just 3-of-12 on third-down conversions. And it cost them.
Notre Dame kicker Jonathan Doerer nailed an ACC Championship-record 51-yard field goal to put Notre Dame up 3-0 early, but it could have been a much easier moment if Book hadn't been sacked on third down on the previous play.
Before the game got out of hand, Notre Dame's 3-0 lead could have doubled at the end of the first quarter if Doerer had hit a 24-yard field goal on 4th-and-goal, but he missed. Had Book completed the touchdown pass on the previous play, the Irish could have held a 10-0 lead heading into the second quarter.
On their opening drive of the second quarter, a Kyren Williams run on 3rd-and-6 only went for three yards, so the Irish were faced with a 4th-and-3 at the Clemson 28. Book missed the pass for a turnover on downs, and Clemson took over to start a drive that would end in a touchdown.
The Irish punted their next two possessions after failing to convert.
What's Next?
Both teams await their postseason fate, which will be decided by the College Football Playoff selection committee Sunday. In the most recent rankings, Notre Dame edged Clemson for the No. 2 spot, with Alabama at No. 1 and Ohio State at No. 4.
Trevor Lawrence Says He's 'Ready to Take on Whatever Challenge' in the NFL
Dec 16, 2020
Clemson's Trevor Lawrence runs for a touchdown against Virginia Tech during the third quarter of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Dec. 5, 2020, in Blacksburg, Va. (Matt Gentry/The Roanoke Times via AP, Pool)
Trevor Lawrence isn't concerned about the difficulties that could await him in the NFL.
Appearing on The Dan Patrick Show on Wednesday, Lawrence said he's "ready to take on whatever challenge" awaits him:
"I'm really just ready to take on whatever challenge it is." -@TrevorLawrencee on how prepared he is to join an NFL team coming off a losing season... aka the Jets.
Lawrence has yet to declare for the draft, but the consensus is the Clemson star would be the No. 1 pick if he does.
Bleacher Report's Matt Miller ranked Lawrence as the top quarterback in the class, comparing him to former Indianapolis Colts star Andrew Luck:
"Lawrence is an elite quarterback prospect who oftentimes reminds me of the best of guys like Joe Burrow (toughness, accuracy), Justin Herbert (mobility, arm strength) and Tua Tagovailoa (processing speed, field vision). But unlike last year's quarterback class, we're not worried about a lack of starting time (Burrow), injuries (Tua) or traits versus production (Herbert). Lawrence executes on all his traits and has done so since his true freshman year."
If the season ended today, the 0-13 New York Jets would have the No. 1 pick. They are three losses away from joining the 2008 Detroit Lions and 2017 Cleveland Browns as the only teams to go winless in a 16-game season.
New York's quarterback play hasn't been good for many years. Brett Favre was the last Jets quarterback to make the Pro Bowl, in 2008. The organization hasn't drafted a quarterback who made the Pro Bowl since Ken O'Brien, who was picked in the first round in 1983 and earned the honor in 1985 and 1991.
Lawrence will lead Clemson into the ACC Championship Game on Saturday against Notre Dame. The Tigers, who stand No. 3 in the College Football Playoff rankings, will likely secure a spot in the playoff with a victory.
