Too much pressure? Clemson's Trevor Lawrence listed near the top of Heisman odds
Earlier this morning, I made my weekly radio appearance in Charleston on The Jamie Bradford Show. Jamie has been a friend for several years and it is always refreshing to be on the other side of an interview.
During today's mix of ticket policy changes and upcoming expectations, Jamie asked me about Trevor Lawrence's Heisman odds based on Bovada's latest rankings.
I'll be the first to admit that I don't gamble. While I certainly enjoy the thrill of it, it's never been for me. Too much risk, not enough reward I guess you would say. Regarding Lawrence and the oddsmakers, I don't tend to "track" that type of information. I'll peek at it from time to time, but it's never been at the forefront for me.
So when Jamie hit me with, "What do you think about Trevor Lawrence being in the top three of Bovada's Heisman contenders?" I was taken aback a bit. I chuckled out loud.
That's right, Lawrence, whose only college snaps were in Clemson's spring game is near the top of the list. Jonathan Taylor (RB) at Wisconsin sits at +750, Bryce Love (RB) at Stanford is +800, then Lawrence checks in at +900 along with Tua Tagovailoa at Alabama.
It's a crazy notion, but it has become a theme that's moved through the young quarterback’s seven months in Clemson. One can surmise that some of the hype for Lawrence was created by Tagovailoa's second-half performance in the National Championship game last season.
Back in April, College Football News listed Lawrence as one of five "realistic Heisman contenders” Which raised some eyebrows at the time.
But even prior to the spring game, Clemson's staff was noting that Lawrence was "As good as advertised," and his performance didn't disappoint. If anything it ramped up the expectations locally and maybe even more so nationally.
Even before Lawrence's spring game performance in Death Valley, Dabo Swinney noted that there was much more to the 6'5 freshman's game than a strong arm.
"He can fly," Swinney said. "He had one probably 50-yard touchdown run. He has a great pocket presence. It’s very natural for him. He’s very instinctive. I think you can see that, but what I don’t think he gets as much credit for is his ability to leave people. I mean, he can move."
That awareness and ability to escape pressure could ultimately define what Lawrence becomes in 2018. Young quarterbacks who become "statues" in the pocket can quickly become rattled by the speed of the game. For a guy with his length, having escape-ability is a tremendous asset.
I said three months ago that "The hype is real," and that hasn't changed in the least.
Will the pressure be too much for Lawrence?
Either way, perhaps ESPN's Craig Haubert summed it up best, "I know this about Clemson right now, you've got to be really excited about the options that you have there on campus."
I agree.