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Two days after Clemson announced that the era of Trevor Lawrence was about to begin, the Kelly Bryant era officially ended.
Bryant, the starting quarterback for the Tigers since the start of the 2017 season, is leaving the program, coach Dabo Swinney confirmed Wednesday morning at the CAC teleconference.
"Obviously saddened and disappointed to have chosen to leave the team, but I really have nothing wrong with Kelly Bryant," said Swinney. "He's one of the best kids I've ever seen. Although I do not think it was an excellent decision, I certainly respect it. "
The Greenville News first reported Bryant's decision about an hour before Swinney confirmed it.
"I think that's best for me and for my future," Bryant told the newspaper. "I was just going to control what I could control and try to make the most of my opportunities, but in the end, I do not feel like I had a free kick."
Swinney met Bryant Monday morning to discuss the coaches' decision to nominate Lawrence, a rookie who was the country's rookie of the year, leaving for Saturday's game against Syracuse. Bryant did not practice Monday or Tuesday, and Swinney said he gave up Bryant Monday after an "emotional" conversation.
Swinney refuted Wednesday that Bryant had not had a fair chance, saying he was open and honest with him throughout the process.
"In the end, it's not the college," Swinney said. "There are tough decisions to make at this level, and you have to do the best for the team. … There will always be people who will criticize the decision because maybe it did not happen the way they wanted. And it comes with the territory.
Clemson was 16-2 in the 18 games in which Bryant competed and reached the football play-off last season, losing to Alabama at Sugar Bowl.
Bryant, 22, graduated in May and achieved eligibility, but was able to transfer with the new red shirt rule introduced this year. A player can play up to four games and not lose a year of eligibility. Because Bryant did not use his red shirt year, he can now do it and play elsewhere next season as a university transfer.
If he had played one more game this year, it would have been his last college season.
Bryant is the fourth quarterback to leave Clemson since the end of last season to join Tucker Israel, Zerrick Cooper and Hunter Johnson, who is now at Northwestern.
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