Clemson’s heir to Tajh Boyd will be Cole Stoudt, head coach Dabo Swinney confirmed Tuesday. Stoudt will be the starting quarterback for the Tigers this fall after backing up Boyd each of the past three seasons and performing well in the recent spring game. FOX Sports was first to report the starting quarterback news.
“It should be pretty obvious that he won the job,” Swinney said. “He’s a great leader who is highly respected by his teammates. He never once complained. He was always ready when we needed him. He’s earned it and he will be named the starter.”
Stoudt appeared to be the easy favorite for the starting job at the end of the spring, and that decision became easier to make following the dismissal of troubled quarterback Chad Kelly on Monday. Kelly’s temper tantrum during the spring game was the last we saw of the nephew of Buffalo Bills legend Jim Kelly, but even if he stayed on the roster it appeared Stoudt was going to be the likely starting quarterback anyway.
Stoudt will bring a pro-style approach to the offense, which should easily follow in the mold Boyd set during his time as starter. The Class of 2011 quarterback recruit has spent plenty of time as the understudy to one of the top quarterbacks in the ACC over the last few years, so as long as he was taking notes then the Tigers offense should have a confident passer leading the way. Will he put up the same numbers Boyd did? Probably not given this will be his first year starting and Clemson also has some big shoes to fill at other positions (Sammy Watkins at receiver, most notably). Either way, this is now Stoudt’s team.