Swinney: Trevor Lawrence the "epitome of the Heisman in every regard"
Feel the difference - The MOST DIGITAL CONTENT covering your CLEMSON TIGERS! Avoid clickbait and sites bloated with advertising!
The Trevor Lawrence fan club has no shortage of members. It stretches across the nation, ranging from Tiger Town, to as of the past two weeks, the heart of Duval County in Jacksonville, Fla.
But Lawrence’s biggest fan? That would be his head coach, Dabo Swinney, who spent a large portion of Monday’s pre-Sugar Bowl press conference stumping for his 6-foot-6 quarterback’s Heisman Trophy potential.
“It just is what it is,” said Swinney. “To me, he's the epitome of the Heisman in every regard. You're talking about a guy that lost Joseph Ngata, Frank Ladson, and Justyn Ross for the whole year. And he's thrown for more yards than any team in the history of Clemson this year. Unbelievable what he's done.”
Lawrence was recently announced as one of four finalists for the Heisman Trophy, joining Florida quarterback Kyle Trask, Alabama quarterback Mac Jones and Alabama wide receiver DeVonta Smith.
Swinney pointed to Lawrence’s ability to make everyone around him better, campaigning for the junior signal-caller despite the two games he missed due to COVID-19.
“People say 'well, he played nine games.' But he was unbelievable. He played nine of the 11 games. And it's just amazing. If you really know what you're looking at, what he does and how he makes everybody else better, how equipped he is, his ability, his knowledge, I mean, it's just off the charts.”
Clemson Sports Talk
Must Read: Cornell Powell always had a plan and he's on track to fulfill itA great look at Cornell Powell’s story, during a career year for a young man who had huge plans when he arrived at Clemson. |
To many, it may seem like Swinney is exposing his personal bias. After all, Lawrence is his quarterback, and he’s assisted in carrying Swinney’s Tigers to perhaps the most successful three-year period in program history.
But Swinney isn’t afraid to admit his partiality in the matter.
“There are some amazing, amazing young football players out there that are very deserving of the Heisman. Absolutely. But the best player in the country is Trevor Lawrence,” said Swinney. “To me, it's not close. But it's not up to me. It's not. I don't get a vote in the Heisman. And obviously I'm biased, but for good reason.”
Even following Clemson’s throttling of Notre Dame in the ACC Championship, Swinney used his postgame airtime to promote the Trevor for Heisman cause. With the college football nation watching, Swinney spoke directly to the Heisman committee, imploring them to strongly consider his quarterback for the sport’s most prestigious award.
"It would be a crying shame if the Heisman Trophy doesn't attach its name to Trevor Lawrence," Swinney said. "That's what I've got to say about that guy.”
Lawrence seeks to become the first Tiger to ever take home the coveted award. Deshaun Watson finished second and third in Heisman voting during his tenure at Clemson.
The Heisman Trophy winner will be announced virtually on ESPN on Tuesday, Jan. 5, 2021. The ceremony will begin at 7 p.m. ET.