Manny Diaz credits Clemson elite QBs making them great
The success of Clemson has been led by a succession of elite quarterbacks taking the Tigers to five consecutive college football playoff appearances according to Miami Hurricanes head coach Manny Diaz.
The addition of quarterback D’Eriq King as a graduate transfer from Houston has elevated the Miami Hurricanes offense in 2020. Clemson has become one of the best programs in college football because of the greatness of their quarterbacks for nearly 10 years according to Miami head coach Manny Diaz.
Beginning with Tahj Boyd in 2010, through Deshaun Watson leading Clemson to back to back National Championship Game appearances in 2015 and 2016 with a title in the latter and with Trevor Lawrence leading the Tigers to appearances in the last two Championship Games Clemson has had elite play at QB.
Boyd was the Clemson backup QB in 2010. Clemson was 10-4 in the first season with Boyd as a starter in 2011. The Tigers have won double-digit games since then and played in what is considered a New Year’s Six bowl game in each of the last nine seasons. Watson and Lawrence have elevated Clemson to another level.
For Miami to get back to being great the Hurricanes need to find a transcendent quarterback. The Miami football dynasty was built in the 1980s, early 1990s and early 2000s because of great QB play. From Jim Kelly through Ken Dorsey, Miami had great leadership at QB. Manny Diaz discussed how elite QBs built Clemson.
From today’s @CanesFootball press conference:
— Isabella Didio (@Isabella_Didio) October 6, 2020
Manny Diaz (@Coach_MannyDiaz) on Clemson QB Trevor Lawrence: He’s one of those guys that eats up your angle..because he’s got these long strides. He puts a lot of stress on your defense.” @Trevorlawrencee
"“If you look at the way Clemson has built their program over the last 10 years…and how Dabo Swinney had to do it in the early days and get their culture right and recruiting right, what sent them over the stratosphere was when they started getting that special quarterback, Tajh Boyd, Deshaun Watson, Trevor Lawrence.When you make a mistake, they will punish you. That’s what good teams do. But we still have a chance to control our performance.”"
Lawrence has been the face of college football since he signed with Clemson in 2018. The Tigers defeated Alabama 44-16 in the National Championship Game in January 2019 with Lawrence as a true freshman. The Tigers lost 42-25 to LSU and Heisman Trophy winner and Top NFL Draft pick Joe Burrow in January 2020.
Next. Herbstreit expects to see where UM offense is vs. Clemson. dark
By end of the 2020 season, Boyd, Lawrence and Watson likely in that order will be the top three passers in Clemson history. Developing quarterbacks could be the key to the future for Miami in the offense by new Hurricanes offensive coordinator Rhett Lashlee. With no QBs committed for 2021, that will fall to freshman Tyler Van Dyke.