Chad Morris may have been part of the recruitment of Kelly Bryant to Clemson back in 2014, but he never got to coach him.
Morris was gone to SMU by the time Bryant enrolled in January of 2015, but it’s a good bet the two know each other.
How well may be interesting to find out in the coming days.
The news broke late Tuesday night and Wednesday morning that Bryant had not shown up at the Tigers’ practice Tuesday and In an exclusive interview with Orange & White, Bryant told Manie Robinson he was leaving.
As soon as that broke, Arkansas fans added two and two, hoping they came up with the right answer that the Hogs might be a potential landing spot.
Bryant did guide Clemson to the College Football Playoff last season and began this season as the starter. But Tigers coach Dabo Swinney made the decision Sunday to go with freshman Trevor Lawrence as the starter.
And Bryant decided to move on.
He spent two years backing up Deshaun Watson, got his shot last year and had a couple of stumbles along the way, got the Tigers into the CFP, but the hyped semifinal shootout with Alabama came off as the Cap Pistol Follies as Clemson struggled.
Now could Arkansas be on his radar?
Nobody knows, but it’s a good bet this story could be updated with the media visiting with Morris before the Hogs’ practice Wednesday.
Not being a recruiter, I have no idea what the rules are on coaches commenting on a graduate transfer.The guess is Morris won’t say much, if anything beyond he knows Bryant.
The bigger question is how Bryant would fit at Arkansas.
Initial knee-jerk reactions say he would fit nicely. Knows what the Hogs want to do with the offense, is more mobile than any quarterback on campus since Matt Jones and has won games at a big time level.
All of those are the positives.
But what message does that send to what is likely to be a diminishing group in the quarterback room.
Cole Kelley is a redshirt sophomore, so if he’s leaving for anything other than an FCS or DII school, he’s got to sit a year, then have one season left.
Ty Storey could do the graduate transfer path, but his options will likely be limited. Daulton Hyatt may be out.
Incoming freshman K.J. Jefferson may not be ready for a year or two, according to some who have seen him closely at North Panola the last few years. He’s a raw talent, but plays in a smaller conference and gauging his skillset is tough.
North Panola is not South Panola, the one-time national powerhouse at the other end of Panola County around Batesville, Mississippi, that churned out highly-rated players every year.
Bryant could be a fit at Arkansas … and maybe the answer at the offensive position that has appeared to have Morris and offensive coordinator Joe Craddock stymied.
The biggest question, though, is if Bryant would be interested in Arkansas.
Speculation in the national media has thrown out everywhere from Ohio State to Florida and everything in between as possible landing spots for Bryant.
Are the Razorbacks an option?
We won’t know for awhile, but there does have to be an interest on both sides.
And you thought things were going to settle down, huh?
