College football trades we wish could happen in 2015
Nov 29, 2014; Arlington, TX, USA; Baylor Bears defensive end Shawn Oakman (2) and Texas Tech Red Raiders offensive lineman Le’Raven Clark (62) during the game at AT&T Stadium. The Bears defeated the Red Raiders 48-46. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports
There may not be a player more valuable in college than Clemson Tigers sophomore quarterback Deshaun Watson. The oft-injured Watson can be the best player in the ACC and a Heisman candidate if he can get through a season healthy, something he didn’t do last year when he played in eight games and only finished six.
Keeping Watson healthy is imperative to their College Football Playoff hopes and that means keeping him upright and defensive ends off him. That would have been an easier proposition if left tackle Isaiah Battle didn’t leave the program in the offseason and enter the NFL’s Supplemental Draft.
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The loss of Battle means former five-star recruit Mitch Hyatt and four-star recruit Jake Fruhmorgen are battling it out for the starting left tackle spot with Joe Gore on the right side. Hyatt is a future All-American and Fruhmorgen may be one too at some point, but Clemson can’t risk entering this season relying on freshmen to keep the MVP healthy.
That leads Clemson to Texas Tech where senior tackle La’Raven Clark is one of the best senior tackles in the country and with the Red Raiders not contending this year, they can get a future cornerstone at left or right tackle for the next three-four years.
Next: Baylor upgrades secondary