No. 1 Trevor Lawrence not afraid of QB competition at Clemson
CORONADO, Calif. – Trevor Lawrence never hesitated.
Clemson had two quarterbacks committed in the 2017 class including five-star Hunter Johnson but Lawrence, the top-rated prospect in 2018, was going to go where he felt most comfortable.
That was Clemson.
Quarterback competition was not going to get in his way.
“When I knew where I wanted to go I knew I’d have to compete wherever I went,” Lawrence said at the Steve Clarkson Quarterback Retreat last weekend where Johnson was also a camp counselor.
“It was probably more competition there than other places but if you’re good enough to play, you’ll play, so I’m not worried about it.”
That was the assurance the Cartersville, Ga., five-star quarterback received from coach Dabo Swinney and his staff when he was in the final stages of his deliberations.
With an unsettled quarterback position heading into this season following the departure of Deshaun Watson, one of the best players in school history, Lawrence said everybody is going to have a fair shot to land the starting job.
He’s one year away from the quarterback competition now, but Lawrence seems confident he will have an opportunity to earn the job once he gets to campus.
“They said everybody has a fair shot,” Lawrence said. “If I get a fair shot, I think I can play over anyone.”
Clemson beat out SEC East powers Georgia and Florida for Lawrence’s commitment in December, prior to the Tigers’ run to the national championship by beating Ohio State and Alabama in the College Football Playoff.
That success only reinforced Lawrence’s already solid commitment – and the five-star said he’s “all good” and won’t even consider other programs.
In typical Lawrence fashion, clear but understated, a simple tweet that read "After a long and thoughtful process, I'm blessed to announce that I am committed to Clemson University #ALLIN" basically ended his recruitment in mid-December.
“It’s been great,” Lawrence said. “They’re really building up their program from where they’ve been so it’s been great to see. They keep getting better with coach Swinney there.
“Just the people and the atmosphere and the town stood out. I knew it was the place I wanted to go.”
Clemson currently has the eighth-best recruiting class nationally, led by Lawrence and five-star defensive end Xavier Thomas, who will play his senior season at Bradenton (Fla.) IMG Academy.
