Clemson Football: 5 reasons the Tigers should be nation’s No. 1 team
By Dana Becker
5. Tiger fans are forgetting about Deshaun Watson
While the above statement might be a little much considering Deshaun Watson carried the team to a national championship and a runner-up finish in back-to-back seasons, Kelly Bryant is doing all he can to fill those huge shoes.
Bryant has put on impressive offensive displays with both his big arm and athletic legs. The junior is completing over 67 percent of his passes in his first season as a starter, including four touchdowns. He has thrown for 1,259 yards, adding another 401 yards and seven scores on the ground.
His numbers pale in comparison to what Watson accomplished on the gridiron last year or even two seasons ago, but Clemson also isn’t asking Bryant to duplicate that. Instead, they are relying on a balanced offense that is as close to perfection as possible.
Through six games, the Tigers have thrown for 1,402 yards and rushed for 1,424 yards. Those might not be Washington State or Auburn numbers, but Clemson hasn’t needed to post mind-boggling stats to secure win after win after win.
Bryant left a Week 6 win over Wake Forest with an ankle injury, which definitely zapped some of the spark of the unit. He is expected to be ready to go full-throttle Friday night vs. Syracuse inside the Carrier Dome.