Texas A&M Football: Kelly Bryant sold on joining SEC after battle with Aggies

After a battle with Texas A&M football, former Clemson quarterback turned Missouri starter Kelly Bryant was sold on joining the SEC.

Kelly Bryant’s Clemson career didn’t end exactly how he’d hoped. He had just led the Tigers to the College Football Playoff a year after Deshaun Watson won the program a national title.

Living up to Watson’s production and end results is what hurt Bryant as he basically killed himself by trying to fill those shoes. He passed for over 2,800 yards and 13 touchdowns in 2018 but he wasn’t quite as effective through the air — or on the ground — as Watson was.

There was talking about an open competition entering the 2018 season, but he started the year as the starter and led the Tigers to two wins to start the year over Furman and in a hostile environment against Texas A&M. Though he was never the same starting quarterback after the latter contest, he came to a realization after the win over the Aggies: the SEC was the place for him.

While that specific game may not have won him over by itself, it definitely steered him in the direction to join the SEC. He lost his starting job to Trevor Lawrence, which was the main reason he decided to transfer, but he chose between Auburn and Missouri because he loved what the SEC had to offer.

And he had some lofty praise for the fans in College Station, saying that they showed up big-time and it was one of the loudest stadiums he’s ever played in — and his home stadium wasn’t too shabby.

Bryant won’t get another chance at playing in Kyle Field in 2019, but he’ll get his fair share of hostile environments. Texas A&M’s home-field advantage is never overlooked.