Three options to play ’emergency QB’ in 2020 for Clemson football
The 2020 Clemson football team enters the season with many questions and most of them have to do with ‘off-the-field’ uncertainties rather than on-the-field observations.
As far as the Tigers’ on-the-field talent is concerned, Clemson is considered one of the favorites to compete for the National Championship.
But off-the-field questions still abound for how and when a season can be played during a pandemic and what all that will entail.
One of the most intriguing scenarios laid out by many during the offseason has to do with what happens in the case of a quarterback testing positive on a College Football team.
While quarterbacks will likely be distanced as much as possible, there could certainly be a situation where a team’s QB depth chart is completely depleted with a positive test and players having to quarantine due to being in close proximity with that positive.
So, it brings up an interesting topic: What would Clemson football do if its three top quarterbacks- Trevor Lawrence, Taisun Phommachanh and D.J. Uiagalelei- had to sit out due to a positive testing in the QB room.
Here’s a look at three options to play ’emergency quarterback.’
3. Travis Etienne
Travis Etienne is the first player to make our list and that’s simply because he’s the top runner on the team.
If Clemson doesn’t have a quarterback available for a game, it very well could be a situation where the Tigers elect to go wildcat and utilize that deep backfield.
Etienne could be the player who makes that all happen.
Snap the ball to Etienne, let him choosing between handing the ball off to Lyn-J Dixon, Demarkcus Bowman, Chez Mellusi or Michel Dukes, or keep it himself. Slow the game down and rely on your running game to come through. That very well could be the plan.
2. Derion Kendrick
You may or may not have known this, but Derion Kendrick was actually a pretty successful quarterback in high school.
During his senior year of high school, Kendrick threw for 2,683 yards and 30 touchdowns to just six interceptions. He also rushed for 1,194 yards and 20 touchdowns on his way to the state title.
If there’s one player outside of the QB room who could come in and have some success playing the position, it’s Kendrick.
Kendrick doesn’t have the strongest arm in the world, but his athleticism makes up for that. He’d be able to complete short and intermediate passes, while also continuing to be a running threat against opposing defenses.
1. Ben Batson
Now, I know what you’re going to say here.
If the quarterbacks are all in quarantine, why wouldn’t Ben Batson be? Well, it’s because of how the Tigers may very well utilize him during the 2020 season.
I expect that the Clemson football coaching staff will prepare for scenarios just like this one and that could mean they take Batson aside, let him run the scout team and make sure that he is separated- at least for the most part- from the other quarterbacks just in case of a situation like this.
Just like Kendrick, Batson doesn’t have the strongest arm, but he has some accuracy and could spread the ball out to his play-makers and allow them to do just that- make plays.
It wouldn’t be the worst idea in the world for Clemson football to keep an ’emergency QB’ in their pocket during the season and that very well may be Batson.