Tag: Kelly Bryant

Does David Pollack think Clemson will ‘bounce back’ this season?

During ESPN’s College GameDay show this past weekend, David Pollack discussed Clemson and was asked whether he thinks the Tigers will bounce back this season. The ESPN college football analyst said he believes Dabo Swinney’s team will, pointing out …

During ESPN’s College GameDay show this past weekend, David Pollack discussed Clemson and was asked whether he thinks the Tigers will bounce back this season.

The ESPN college football analyst said he believes Dabo Swinney’s team will, pointing out that Clemson still went 10-3 during what was considered a “down” 2021 campaign and that the Tigers’ three losses came to the eventual national champion in Georgia, the eventual ACC champion in Pittsburgh, and NC State in double-overtime.

“I think they bounce back,” Pollack said. “But if we go back to last year, they won 10 games. They lost to Georgia, the national champions. They lost to Pitt, the ACC champions. They lost to NC State. All of them were great football games, but the offense didn’t pull their weight. Who’s back? The best defensive line in the country. They’re going to make everybody’s life really hard on the defensive side of the football.”

Pollack also talked about how Clemson’s season hinges on the play of DJ Uiagalelei and the offense, and he wonders if the 2022 season will bring about a similar quarterback situation to the 2018 campaign, when Trevor Lawrence usurped Kelly Bryant as the Tigers’ starting quarterback after four games that year.

“It all revolves around DJ,” Pollack said. “The new, slimmer approach. He’s worked on his mechanics. But I think it’s going to be interesting to see, because the defense will dominate. But offensively, Kelly Bryant, will they do what they did with Kelly Bryant and Trevor Lawrence, and Cade Klubnik becomes the guy down the road? Either way, the offense is going to be the tale.”

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Former Tiger takes home MVP honors

A former Clemson football player took home Most Valuable Player honors after impressing with his performance in a championship game on Saturday night. Former Tiger quarterback Kelly Bryant was named Finals MVP of the People’s Championship in the Fan …

A former Clemson football player took home Most Valuable Player honors after impressing with his performance in a championship game on Saturday night.

Former Tiger quarterback Kelly Bryant was named Finals MVP of the People’s Championship in the Fan Controlled Football league after leading the Zappers to a 42-24 win over the Bored Ape FC.

Bryant completed 11 of 13 passes for 114 yards and a touchdown with one interception while rushing for 58 yards and three more scores on the ground.

That effort propelled the Zappers to the championship following an 0-4 start to the season.

“Really just getting over the hump, just getting that first win, that was the biggest thing for us,” Bryant said, via LX.com’s Mike Gavin. “Once we got that, we got on a run. We knew we had the right guys on the offensive side, we had a chance to be really explosive. We put together a great week and you see what happens when a team puts all that together.”

Bryant played for the Tigers from 2015-18 and graduated from Clemson before transferring to Missouri during the 2018 season to finish out his college career.

He started for Clemson in 2017 and led the team to an undefeated regular season, ACC Championship and appearance in the College Football Playoff.

You can see some of Bryant’s highlights from the FCF People’s Championship below:

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Former Clemson QB wins MVP in championship game of 7-on-7 league

One of Clemson’s former starting quarterbacks won a championship in a 7-on-7 league Saturday night, leading his team to a double-digit victory.

Former Clemson quarterback Kelly Bryant is still having success on the football field.

Playing in the Fan Controlled Football (FCF) league, the 25-year-old Bryant led the Zappers to a championship on Saturday, defeating the Bored Apes, 42-24. In the championship game, Bryant completed 84.6% of his passes for 114 yards, one touchdown and one interception while rushing for 58 yards and three touchdowns. His four-touchdown performance led him to be crowned the MVP of the game.

https://www.instagram.com/p/CesHzuXM4l1/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

Although Bryant said he fell back in love with football this year, before Saturday’s game, he told Reggie Chatman Jr. of 11Alive News that participating in the FCF wasn’t an immediate decision.

“Really when I got the call, I wasn’t really sure if I was going to come in play because, at that point, I didn’t know if I was going to be able to play football again. Didn’t know if I really wanted to,” said Bryant.

Before joining the FCF, Bryant played at Clemson from 2015 to 2018. In his one full season as Clemson’s starter in 2017, Bryant completed 65.8% of his passes for 2,802 yards, 13 touchdowns and eight interceptions. He also added 665 rushing yards and 11 touchdowns on the ground.

After losing the starting job to Trevor Lawrence in 2018, he transferred to Missouri in December of that year, where he would start in 2019 for his final collegiate season.

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Former Clemson QB having success in 7-on-7 league

One of Clemson’s recent starting quarterbacks is finding success in a new league, leading his team in passing and total touchdowns.

Former Clemson quarterback Kelly Bryant never made it to the NFL, but that hasn’t stopped the 25-year-old from continuing his football career.

After four years with Clemson and one year with Missouri, Bryant has joined the seven-on-seven Fan Controlled Football league (FCF), which began in 2021 and allows fans to call the plays.

In his first season with the Zappers, Bryant has completed 55.6% of his passes and leads the team with 234 yards, and is also second on the team in rushing with 146 yards.

In the Zappers’ recent victory over the SB Stars on June 4, Bryant had 123 total yards and three touchdowns, one of which he scored on this five-yard rushing touchdown that gave his team a 14-0 lead.

In his one full season as Clemson’s starter in 2017, Bryant completed 65.8% of his passes for 2,802 yards, 13 touchdowns and eight interceptions. He also added 665 rushing yards and 11 touchdowns on the ground. After Trevor Lawrence took over as the Tigers’ starting signal-caller, Bryant eventually transferred to Missouri, where he threw for over 2,000 yards and 15 touchdowns in 10 games.

Now in the FCF, Bryant and other former college football stars, such as 2012 Heisman winner Johnny Manziel, have another platform to showcase their skills on the football field.

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Clemson ‘dream school’ for talented local QB on Tigers’ radar

The Clemson Insider caught up with a talented young signal-caller who stood out at the Elite 11 Regional in Atlanta earlier this month and is on the Tigers’ future recruiting radar. Gavin Owens, a class of 2025 quarterback from nearby Wren High …

The Clemson Insider caught up with a talented young signal-caller who stood out at the Elite 11 Regional in Atlanta earlier this month and is on the Tigers’ future recruiting radar.

Gavin Owens, a class of 2025 quarterback from nearby Wren High School (Piedmont, S.C.), impressed with his performance at the Elite 11 Regional Atlanta at Carrollton (Ga.) High School on Sunday, April 3.

“Elite 11 was a good experience,” Owens told The Clemson Insider. “I threw the ball well and I got noticed by some of the coaches and writers there. I was one of three 2025 (freshmen in the class of 2025) invited, too.”

Owens (6-4, 205) was the starting quarterback for Wren’s varsity team in 2021, when he accounted for 2,262 yards and 19 touchdowns as a freshman.

Kentucky, Marshall and Florida A&M have already extended offers to Owens, who is also drawing interest from schools such as Penn State, Florida State, LSU and Auburn, along with Clemson.

“One main thing is being coachable, and also my footwork,” Owens said of why he feels he’s attracting attention early in the recruiting process. “Another big one, my arm strength, and also my throwing technique.”

Owens made the short trip to Clemson last fall for an unofficial recruiting visit on Saturday, Oct. 30, when he took in the Tigers’ 30-20 victory over Florida State at Death Valley.

Asked what he remembers most about that visit, Owens replied, “The atmosphere, all the people.”

“It just felt like home to me,” he added.

Wren High School (Piedmont, S.C.) 2025 QB Gavin Owens with Clemson offensive player development coach Tajh Boyd (photo courtesy of @gavinowens06 on Twitter)

While on campus, Owens had the chance to spend time with Clemson offensive player development coach Tajh Boyd.

Boyd gave Owens a tour of the football facility before the game, and Owens enjoyed being shown around by the legendary Clemson quarterback.

“He’s a cool dude, good to be around,” Owens said. “Very great guy.”

Boyd let Owens know during that visit that the Tigers are keeping tabs on him.

“He was telling me that it seems like Clemson really likes me a lot,” Owens recalled, “and they watch me and follow me, see how I’m doing.”

Speaking of former Clemson quarterbacks, Owens got to know Kelly Bryant last season when the former Wren quarterback returned to his alma mater as a mentor to Owens and his teammates.

“He actually helped us this past year during the season,” Owens said. “Came in middle of the season, helped with the quarterbacks and actually taught us a few things and gave us some tips to be better, and he actually helped us. Once he came in, he gave us a positive winning percentage. I feel like he really helped us when he came in.”

Owens will likely be back at Clemson this summer to compete at the Dabo Swinney Camp, which he has participated in multiple times over the years and feels he has benefited from.

“I started off going when I was little, and just building off of them and just them teaching me ways to get better,” he said. “I feel like they helped me grow in strength, throwing the ball, and mentally.”

As a local recruit, Owens would be ecstatic to earn an offer from Clemson in the future and have the chance to suit up for the Tigers down the road.

“That’s my dream school,” he said. “That would be great.”

Along with Clemson, Owens has been able to visit schools such as Georgia, Auburn, Kentucky, Florida State, Virginia Tech, Penn State, West Virginia, Marshall, Eastern Kentucky and Florida A&M thus far in the recruiting process.

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Skalski reminiscing on storybook rivalry with Gamecocks

With No. 23 Clemson’s regular season quickly coming to a close, the Tigers are looking ahead to the renewal of their historic in-state rivalry with the South Caroline Gamecocks on Saturday. Though he didn’t grow up with it, Georgia-native James …

With No. 23 Clemson’s regular season quickly coming to a close, the Tigers are looking ahead to the renewal of their historic in-state rivalry with the South Caroline Gamecocks on Saturday.

Though he didn’t grow up with it, Georgia-native James Skalski has grown to love the iconic rivalry that is the Clemson-South Carolina game and the high stakes that come along with it every year.

“I’m from Georgia, so I wasn’t really a fan of anyone in particular,” Skalski told the media on Tuesday. “I got recruited by them [South Carolina] pretty heavily… I’d be lying if I said to you that I wasn’t considering them when I was getting recruited. Now though being here, I’ve learned over the years that it’s a big deal and I’m not a big fan of them anymore now, but it means a lot to a lot of people. This game, Coach [Dabo] Swinney talks about it all the time, 10-1 and have a great year, but if you lose to these guys, you’re going to hear about it from our fans, from theirs, and the people in the state.”

The linebacker credits former teammates like Ben Boulware, who grew up in the heart of the rivalry, for giving him a warm welcome into the yearly tradition and emulating the kind of intensity needed to successfully face the Gamecocks.

“I remember Boulware always being charged up about,” the sixth year said. “He’s from here and he loves Clemson, so I remember listening to him and hearing his perspective on it. Everyone in this building understands the importance of the game and how much energy you have to put into it and bring to it.”

Though Skalski has had plenty of fond memories against the Gamecocks in his six years and six straight wins with the program, the linebacker will never forget his freshman year in 2017 when the Tiger’s dominated the Palmetto State rivalry in Death Valley and he dreamed of the moments to come when it was his turn to take the field and experience it firsthand.

“I remember freshman year we beat them 56-7 here at home,” Skalski said. “I remember, that was my first one and the stadium was rocking. I remember Mike Williams going crazy in that game. I remember Ben [Boulware], watching him and Kendall [Joseph] prepare that week and then just dominating. You could see Ben on the field that game calling out plays before they even happen… I vividly remember that.”

Clemson travels to Williams-Brice Stadium in Columbia, S.C. on Saturday, Nov. 27 for its final regular season game of the 2021 season to reignite their in-state rivalry with the South Carolina Gamecocks. With a win on Saturday, head coach Dabo Swinney would be the first coach in the rivalry’s history to win seven straight meetings. Kickoff is set for 7:30 p.m. ET on SEC Network.

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Former Tiger released by pro team

A former Clemson football player was released by a professional football team on Tuesday. The Toronto Argonauts of the Canadian Football League announced on Twitter that they released quarterback Kelly Bryant. Bryant played for the Tigers from …

A former Clemson football player was released by a professional football team on Tuesday.

The Toronto Argonauts of the Canadian Football League announced on Twitter that they released quarterback Kelly Bryant.

Bryant played for the Tigers from 2015-18 and graduated from Clemson before transferring to Missouri during the 2018 season to finish out his college career.

He started for Clemson in 2017 and led the team to an undefeated regular season, ACC Championship and appearance in the College Football Playoff.

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What team signed Kelly Bryant, who started ahead of Trevor Lawrence?

Former Clemson QB Kelly Bryant has found a home in the CFL

Kelly Bryant was a backup to Deshaun Watson for two seasons. He started at Clemson in 2017, then checked out in 2018, transferring and becoming a Missouri Tiger when displaced by Trevor Lawrence as the No. 1 QB for the ACC Tigers.

Watson is a Houston Texan … for now. Lawrence was the top pick in the 2021 NFL draft by the Jacksonville Jaguars.

Bryant? Well, as of Thursday, he is officially a Toronto Argonaut.

Bryant had been with Toronto in February. The Argos released him but decided to sign him, making it official with the CFL season starting early next month.

Bryant led the Tigers to the 2017 ACC Championship. He threw for 2,802 and 13 touchdowns and rushed for 665 rushing yards and 11 touchdowns.

In 2018, he was the starter for Clemson, again, but on Sept. 25, coach Dabo Swinney announced Lawrence would be the starting quarterback for the Tigers.

That led to Bryant’s exit from the South Carolina school. He wound up at Missouri and in 2019, threw for 2,215 yards and 15 touchdowns.

Whatever happened to Kelly Bryant, who started ahead of Trevor Lawrence?

What became of Kelly Bryant, who once started ahead of Trevor Lawrence at Clemson?

Once upon a time, presumptive No. 1 pick in the 2021 NFL Draft Trevor Lawrence wasn’t the starter at Clemson.

It didn’t last long but as a freshman, Lawrence was behind Kelly Bryant for the Tigers at the start of the 2018 college football season.

It didn’t last long.

Bryant sat for two seasons behind Deshaun Watson, took Clemson to an ACC title and the College Football Playoff as a junior, and lost his job to Lawrence despite a 16-2 record as a starter. The move happened four games into the season in late September.

Lawrence went on to become a superstar, assuredly the player the Jacksonville Jaguars will take when they make the first selection in the NFL Draft on April 29.

What became of Bryant?

He transferred to Missouri, where he played in 10 games for the Tigers in 2019. Bryant threw for 2,219 yards with 15 touchdowns and six picks.

After that, he had a tryout with the Arizona Cardinals last year that did not pan out.

When most recently heard from, Bryant signed in February with the Toronto Argonauts, where he will be reunited with cousin and former NFL WR Martavis Bryant for the 2021 season.

 

Texans work out quarterbacks Shea Patterson, Kelly Bryant

The Houston Texans worked out two quarterbacks, Kelly Bryant and Shea Patterson.

The Houston Texans have worked out a pair of quarterbacks on Tuesday.

The club worked out former Michigan quarterback Shea Patterson along with former Missouri quarterback Kelly Bryant, who also played for Clemson from 2015-17, even leading the Tigers to a College Football Playoff championship game appearance at the end of his final season.

To date, Bryant has had a workout with the Arizona Cardinals in August. Patterson was in the virtual offseason with the Kansas City Chiefs after going undrafted. The Super Bowl champions waived him in July.

For the Texans, what they are looking for in an extra quarterback isn’t necessarily someone with the same skillset as Deshaun Watson as much as a signal caller who can help keep practices flowing smoothly and provide an added benefit to the quarterback room.

“I think like there’s probably some guys out there that have experience, but I wouldn’t say that’s the number one key for that role,” coach Bill O’Brien said on Sept. 2. “I think it’s more about, hey, does this guy have the capacity to learn, does he understand his role, is he a good guy, will he fit into the quarterback room well.”

The Texans also worked out former Arizona Cardinals, New England Patriots, and Miami Dolphins cornerback Nate Brooks.

Houston also worked out former Green Bay Packers receiver Trevor Davis, who also played with the Oakland Raiders, Miami Dolphins, and Chicago Bears.