Tag: bubba chandler

Chandler’s decision to play pro ball eerily similar to Francoeur’s

ATLANTA – Jeff Francoeur faced a difficult decision after he graduated from Parkview High School in Lilburn, Georgia back in 2002. At the time Francoeur was committed to play football and baseball for Clemson and enrolled in June ahead of the 2002 …

ATLANTA – Jeff Francoeur faced a difficult decision after he graduated from Parkview High School in Lilburn, Georgia back in 2002.

At the time Francoeur was committed to play football and baseball for Clemson and enrolled in June ahead of the 2002 MLB Draft.

But when his hometown team, the Atlanta Braves, called his name with the ninth overall pick of the draft, he opted to pursue a career in professional baseball and it obviously worked out for him.

“I just became a Clemson fan, I loved the university and I loved everything about it,” Francoeur told The Clemson Insider at Truist Park on Saturday. “I just had to do what was best for me at the time and that was play baseball.”

This summer two Clemson enrollees, Bubba Chandler and Will Taylor, faced a similar decision-making process and took divergent paths.

Chandler opted to pursue the big leagues and was drafted by the Pittsburgh Pirates with the 72nd overall pick in the third round of the 2021 MLB Draft.

But Will Taylor turned down professional baseball offers with large incentives to play football and baseball for the Tigers.

Francoeur recalled the difficulty of choosing between two sports you love but his first round selection eased the burden of that decision.

“I think it’s like anything if you get two or three million dollars and every opportunity to make it to the big leagues it’s tough to turn that down it really is,” Francoeur said. “They are going to make sure you have everything you need to be successful to give you that opportunity.”

Francoeur still doles out advice to young players faced with the choice between a two-sport college career and by-passing the amateur ranks to turn professional.

“I tell them look make the best decision with you and your family,” he said. “My dad always said you go to college to figure out what you want to do afterwards and for me I just had the opportunity to be able to figure it out before. And that’s kind of what my dad was saying.”

The decision paid off for Francoeur who wrapped up a 12-year MLB career in 2016 that included six seasons with the Braves. He finished his tenure with a career .261 batting average, 698 RBIs and 160 home runs.

Francoeur maintains a positive relationship with Clemson and remains an avid Tiger fan despite his residence in the heart of Georgia Bulldog country.

He joked that Clemson head coach Dabo Swinney always reminds him that he has four years of NCAA eligibility remaining to play for the Tigers.

“Dabo still tells me when I text him that I have four years of eligibility but the only thing I could do is hold an extra point now. I don’t know if I’m worth much of anything else,” Francoeur said.

While Francoeur may not return to play for Clemson he told TCI he will certainly be at Bank of America Stadium on Saturday to pull for his Tigers against Georgia.

Football season has finally arrived. Time to represent your Tigers and show your stripes!

Quarterback depth ‘not a concern’ for Streeter

Following the conclusion of the MLB draft last weekend, all eyes were on Clemson’s quarterback room and the looming decisions of incoming freshmen Will Taylor and Bubba Chandler. While Clemson will continue on with Will Taylor aboard and without …

Following the conclusion of the MLB draft last weekend, all eyes were on Clemson’s quarterback room and the looming decisions of incoming freshmen Will Taylor and Bubba Chandler.

While Clemson will continue on with Will Taylor aboard and without Bubba Chandler, who decided to pursue professional baseball, quarterbacks coach Brandon Streeter isn’t worried. In fact, Streeter is more excited than anything to see what his five guys can do once fall camp rolls around.

“I think we’re gonna have five guys that I feel really good about,” Streeter said. “Obviously, there’s a lot to do and it is a little more thin than most years, but as you all recall, the year that we won the national championship in 2018, after that fourth game losing Kelly [Bryant], it was Trevor [Lawrence], Chase [Brice], Ben Batson, and then Hunter Renfrow. It was two guys that you felt good about, but we’re gonna be deeper this year and now it’s a matter of getting them ready to play.”

Despite what some would consider a lack of depth, starter D.J. Uiagalelei has more experience coming into his second season than Lawrence did in his national championship campaign, something Streeter thinks could be a real difference maker come kickoff this fall.

“Obviously, losing Bubba, we lost that number and a little bit more depth,” Streeter said. “Coming in in June is very very hard to learn offense and be very comfortable with it, but I’ve been very impressed with Will Taylor and also with Billy Wiles. I think both those kids are gonna be capable and are going to be able to help us. Obviously, you got D.J. who has more experience than Trevor did going into Trevor’s freshman year when we won the whole thing, so I’m really not concerned.”

With guys like Hunter Helms, Taisun Phommachanh, and the freshmen Taylor and Wiles sitting behind Uiagalelei, Streeter is confident in his quarterback room, despite some of their lack of experience, seeing a parallel between the way Brice became “that guy” in 2018 against Syracuse and the potential he sees within this year’s group.

“I think there’s a couple guys that don’t have much experience, but neither did Chase have much experience until that Syracuse game,” the quarterbacks coach said. “Chase did something special in that game and the team rallied around him and that sort of thing. We have guys on this team that are capable of doing something like that for sure.”

Time to get the latest Clemson apparel to show your Tiger pride. Order your officially licensed Clemson gear right here!

Swinney’s message to Chandler after being selected in MLB Draft

Bubba Chandler was the first player the Pittsburgh Pirates drafted to commit to the organization after they selected him with the 72 nd overall pick in the third round of the MLB Draft. Chandler enrolled at Clemson two weeks ago and was already …

Bubba Chandler was the first player the Pittsburgh Pirates drafted to commit to the organization after they selected him with the 72nd overall pick in the third round of the MLB Draft.

Chandler enrolled at Clemson two weeks ago and was already working out with the Clemson football team when the Pirates selected him on Monday. The Bogart, Ga., product was also expected to be part of the Clemson baseball program next spring.

However, those plans changed.

Chandler explained to Pittsburgh’s 93.7 the Fan on Tuesday that baseball was his first love and he always dreamed of playing in the Major Leagues, and he did not want to pass up on the opportunity.

“You never know if I went to Clemson in three or four years would the same opportunity present itself? You never know. I took the safer route,” he said.

Choosing the safer route meant Chandler had to go and explain it to Clemson head coach Dabo Swinney. He knew he was passing on an opportunity to play for a national championship program, one that has consistently been involved in the championship race the last six seasons.

But to no surprise, Swinney was very supportive and understanding when Chandler walked into his office to tell him of his decision on Monday. The two spoke for about 20 minutes.

“He said to listen to God, follow your heart,” Chandler said. “He wasn’t mad about anything. He said ‘Bubba Chandler, I freakin’ love you kid. You are going to do great.’ He said if you ever want a spot here again, your jersey is going to be open. That made me feel a lot better.”

Chandler said he is going to miss playing football. It is a sport he grew up playing and how he met all of his friends. But he also knows the physical demand that comes with playing football can put a strain on his body, and his dreams of playing Major League Baseball just outweighed his love for football.

“I took the safe route. This is pretty much what I wanted to do. I always wanted to be a high draft pick,” he said. “Football is a sport I grew up with, my family played it. I played with all of my best friends. That’s where I met all of my buddies. I’m going to miss it, but at the same time you have to let stuff go in life. That is something I’m probably going to have to let go.”

Time to get the latest Clemson apparel to show your Tiger pride. Order your officially licensed Clemson gear right here!

Bad news for Clemson football and baseball

A two-sport Clemson signee was taken on Day 2 of the 2021 Major League Baseball Draft on Monday. North Oconee High School (Bogart, Ga.) product Bubba Chandler was selected by the Pittsburgh Pirates with the 72nd pick in the third round of the draft …

A two-sport Clemson signee was taken on Day 2 of the 2021 Major League Baseball Draft on Monday.

North Oconee High School (Bogart, Ga.) product Bubba Chandler was selected by the Pittsburgh Pirates with the 72nd pick in the third round of the draft as a pitcher.

The Clemson Insider confirmed that Chandler will pursue a future in professional baseball rather than try his hand as a two sport star at Clemson.

Chandler fell a lot farther than most analysts projected but is glad everything worked out the way it was supposed to.

“Yesterday was a little stressful but God has a plan I’m following that plan and prayed a lot last night,” Chandler told MLB.com. “Everything is going to work out, I’m only 18 years old and if you told me this a year ago that I would be in this situation I would’ve told you you’re crazy.  Everything works out for a reason and I’m proud to be a Pittsburgh Pirate.”

A pitcher/shortstop on the diamond and quarterback on the gridiron, Chandler has signed a letter of intent to play both football and baseball for the Tigers and enrolled at Clemson in June.

Draftees have until Aug. 1 to sign baseball contracts.

Chandler threw for 3,605 yards and 40 touchdowns while rushing for 983 yards and nine more scores during his career at North Oconee.

On the baseball field, Chandler struck out 16 in seven innings while hitting .435 during his pandemic-shorted season in the spring of 2020. He finished last season 8-1 with a 1.25 ERA and 96 strikeouts in 44 2/3 innings pitched and set a single-game school record in the playoffs with a 17-strikeout performance during which he allowed only one hit.

Chandler was ranked as the No. 21 overall prospect in this year’s draft class by MLB.com.

“After working with an 88-93 mph fastball last summer, Chandler has made a leap to operating at 92-95 and touching 97 this spring,” MLB.com’s scouting report reads. “He possesses a quick arm and also has added power to his downer curveball, which now resides in the upper 70s, and his less-used slider, which gets up to 85 mph. He shows trust in his low-80s changeup as well.

“Chandler’s athleticism and clean arm action and delivery bode well for his control and command, though he’s still learning to harness his enhanced stuff. He’s also an intriguing prospect as a switch-hitting shortstop with solid power potential and speed.”

Time to get the latest Clemson apparel to show your Tiger pride. Order your officially licensed Clemson gear right here!

Former Georgia baseball commit flips to play QB for Clemson Tigers

Bubba Chandler, who was recently committed to Georgia baseball, has announced his commitment to Clemson, where he’ll play QB and baseball.

On Wednesday, Clemson football added a commitment from quarterback Bubba Chandler, who until recently was committed to play baseball at Georgia.

Clemson offered Chandler on May 7. On May 11, he announced he’d be reopening his recruitment and that he wanted to play both baseball and football in college.

Chandler announced his decision to play both sports for Clemson via Twitter on May 20.

Out of North Oconee High School in Bogart, Georgia, Chandler is a right-handed pitcher and shortstop. He originally committed to play baseball at UGA in June. With Georgia not being able to offer him a football scholarship, he’s decided to attend Clemson, where he can pursue both sports.

Chandler originally did not expect to receive interest from Clemson, a school that he’s never actually taken a recruiting visit to. But when Clemson quarterback target Christian Veilleux committed to Penn State a few weeks ago, it left the Tigers looking for a signal-caller in their 2021 class. So Clemson took a swing at a two-for-one deal and it paid off.

He did, however, visit Clemson in 2018 when his friend on the football team got him to tickets to see a game in Death Valley.

“[The Clemson coaches] just watched my film, a lot of my Twitter videos, and I talked with the coaches pretty much every day on the phone,” Chandler told ESPN. “Then, of course, our high school head coach knows [Clemson safeties coach] Mickey Conn pretty well. Clemson’s coaches asked our head coach about me, my character, and I guess they liked what they heard.”

Chandler has been playing both sports for nearly his entire life, and will continue that at Clemson.

“They’re going to develop me into the best player I can be in both sports,” Chandler said. “They have a chance to compete for a national championship every year. I’ve always wanted to play football in college, and what better place to play football than at Clemson?”

As for Georgia, the Bulldogs already have another quarterback committed in the 2021 class who also happens to be from Bogart. That’s 5-star dual-threat Brock Vandagriff.

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Clemson football coaches coming for Georgia baseball commit

Clemson football coaches are recruiting Georgia baseball commit Bubba Chandler to play QB for the Tigers.

Clemson quarterbacks coach Brandon Streeter and offensive coordinator Tony Elliott have been in touch with 2021 Georgia baseball commit Bubba Chandler.

Out of North Oconee High School in Bogart, Georgia, Chandler is a right-handed pitcher and shortstop. He committed to play baseball at UGA last June.

Clemson quarterback target Christian Veilleux committed to Penn State last week, leaving the Tigers looking for a signal caller in their 2021 class.

Though Chandler is committed to play baseball at Georgia, he has been picking up football offers lately from schools like UNC-Charlotte, Western Kentucky and Troy.

He said that the Auburn football program has also been recruiting him heavily.

Clemson is yet to offer Chandler, but the two sport star told TigerNet that if they do offer he would certainly give them a chance. He said he would love to play both sports in college.

Chandler has not yet been able to visit the Clemson campus, but it appears he is excited to do so when the lockdown is lifted.

As for Georgia, the Bulldogs already have another quarterback from Bogart committed in the 2021 class. That’s 5-star dual-threat Brock Vandagriff.

“I love UGA. But I love football as well,” Chandler told Clemson Insider. “I’m going to look over and consider any opportunity, such as Clemson.”