The Recruiting Guy

Kelly Bryant looking forward to Arkansas trip

Former Clemson quarterback Kelly Bryant, who led the Tigers to the national championship game in 2017, said he will visit Arkansas on Oct. 20. A graduate transfer, Bryant will be immediately eligible
Former Clemson quarterback Kelly Bryant, who led the Tigers to the national championship game in 2017, said he will visit Arkansas on Oct. 20. A graduate transfer, Bryant will be immediately eligible

Former Clemson quarterback Kelly Bryant’s relationship with Arkansas coach Chad Morris is a key reason he plans to officially visit the Razorbacks this weekend.

"Most everybody knows he's the guy that recruited me to Clemson," Bryant said this afternoon on the Sports Talk with Bo Mattingly radio show. "So that relationship is real strong. I've been talking to him. It just seems like we're picking up right where we left off when I was a senior in high school.

"The guy is so knowledgeable," Bryant added. "He brings so much enthusiasm to coaching and how he coaches and how he coaches players. Who wouldn't want to play for a coach like that? He's all about the players."

Morris' honesty during the recruiting process in high school impressed Bryant then and still does.

"He was honest with me," Bryant said. "He told me that he didn't know how long he would be there. There was a possibility he may leave. That little conversation we had really stuck with me throughout the process because he didn't have to tell me that. He could've just told me what I wanted to hear."

Bryant, who made an unofficial visit to North Carolina last weekend, was recruited by Morris while Morris was offensive coordinator at Clemson in 2014.

"It was great," he said of North Carolina. "I left there with a different mindset than I had coming in. It's a good situation."

The Arkansas fan base has made quite an impact on Bryant, and he's looking froward to the trip to Fayetteville.

"I heard about the fans. I've seen it all over my Twitter feed and my Instagram," Bryant said. "Being in the atmosphere, just getting a feel for the type of environment I'm going to walk into. Just try and find my new home. I've heard so much about Arkansas, and I just want to see what they all have to offer."

He plans to make other visits but has yet to decide which schools.

"It's still early," Bryant said. "I've been doing my research on my own, figuring out the best fit for me, you know, and where I'll be spending my next to last year playing college football."

He left Clemson after losing his starting job to freshman Trevor Lawrence four games into this season. He completed 66 percent of his passes and totaled 610 yards of total offense in four games against Furman, Texas A&M, Georgia Southern and Georgia Tech.

Bryant, 6-3, 225 pounds, is taking classes at Clemson this semester and plans to be a graduate transfer who will be able to enroll at his new school in January. As a graduate transfer, he will be eligible to play immediately in 2019.

He said being recruited in high school to now is totally different.

"I've seen a lot," Bryant said. "The biggest thing, honestly, I tell coaches I don't want to be recruited. I don't want to know the pitch. This is my last year. I just want them to be straight-up honest. What's the situation and the team situation also, and the quarterback situation? How can I get developed in a year? Because for me, I feel like the best ball is still ahead of me."

He split time with Deshaun Watson his first two seasons and became the starter in 2017 when he led the Tigers to an Atlantic Coast Conference title and an appearance in the College Football Playoff. He passed for 2,802 yards and 13 touchdowns, and rushed for 665 yards and 11 touchdowns last season.

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