Not-Quite-Predictions, Part One: Tajh Boyd Will Win The Heisman

Aug 2, 2013; Clemson, SC, USA; Clemson Tigers quarterback Tajh Boyd (10) during a practice drill at the Clemson Tigers practice facility. Mandatory Credit: Joshua S. Kelly-USA TODAY Sports

It wouldn’t be August without the yearly commentator predictions. However redundant or nonsensical the analysis comimh across the airwaves or plethora of online content, the massive guessing game does hold importance each season. For starters, it gives fans a bit of an idea on where teams sit against the rest of the country. It’s a bit of a who’s who exercise of the college football world.

No matter how far-fetched some prophecies sound, it has always been a fun, gearing-up tool for the upcoming season. The prognoses within this series may or may not come true, and there might be some of you who completely disagree, but that is the beauty of watching the weeks unfold. All is unknown at this point. Here is part one in a five-part series to get you ready for Saturdays in the fall.

Tajh Boyd Will Win The Heisman

What is the reigning conference player of the year going to do as a follow-up to a season where he threw for 3,896 yards and an ACC-record 36 touchdowns last season, two more than the previous mark set by N.C. State’s Philip Rivers in 2003? The one and only goal should be to lead the Clemson Tigers to their first national championship since 1981. While the end result for the team may be up for debate, senior quarterback Tajh Boyd has a chance to embark on an amazing season that will send him off to the NFL with his name etched in collegiate history.

If this sounds crazy, think about something for a moment. In 2012, Boyd threw more touchdown passes, averaged more passing yards per game, had more yards per completion and had a higher passing efficiency than the first freshman to ever win college football’s most prominent award, Johnny Manziel.

If you doubt the ability of Tajh Boyd, look no further than the 25-24 win over the LSU Tigers in the Chick-Fill-A-Bowl, where he went 36-50 throwing for 346 yards with two touchdowns. The dramatic finish was a key step in the elevation of Boyd into a Heisman contender. He was able to drive Clemson 60 yards in 10 plays within the final two minutes of the game to give Chandler Catanzano the opportunity to kick the game winning field goal to earn the Tigers their first 11-win season in over 30 years.

Tajh Boyd showed he was able to put up big numbers against one of the best defenses in the country. He acted calm under pressure and can now build on his record-setting 2012 season. Simply put, Boyd is a play maker and with the ball in his hands he can lead Clemson to their second ACC title in three years. He has the help on the outside with junior receiver Sammy Watkins returning. Boyd and Watkins are one the of most dangerous duos in the nation, as both flourish in the up-tempo Chad Morris offense.

Boyd was already fearless outside of the pocket, but that wasn’t enough for him. If he was going to put his NFL career on hold for one more year, then he was going make the most of the opportunity by improving his footwork inside the pocket with famed quarterback guru George Whitfield Jr.

The Tigers’ schedule has a chance to derail Boyd, with the season kicking off against the No. 5 Georgia Bulldogs, then closing out the 2013 regular season against South Carolina. But there is no reason to doubt his ability to lead Clemson as far as the national championship. With an order of similar numbers from last year, or higher record-setting marks, this can be a year in which Tajh Boyd cements himself with college football royalty.