Watson might have surgery before the game against Oklahoma
By: Scott Keepfer, greenvillenewssc.com
CLEMSON — Clemson quarterback Deshaun Watson may have to tour Orlando with limited mobility.
Coach Dabo Swinney said Sunday night that his freshman quarterback “is available” for the Clemson’s Dec. 29 Russell Athletic Bowl date with Oklahoma, but that he may undergo surgery prior to the bowl to expedite his recovery period.
“We may go ahead and do surgery and try to get about a threeweek head start on his rehab,”Swinney said. “He’s got a good eight months or so to rehab and we want him to get all his skills and drills down this summer. It’s something we’ll be making a decision on pretty soon.”
Watson suffered a sprained LCL in the Tigers’ loss at Georgia Tech on Nov. 15, then tore his ACL in practice on Nov. 20. He played against South Carolina on Nov. 29, guiding the Tigers to a 35-17 victory while wearing a brace on his left knee.
Swinney also revealed Sunday that Tony Elliott, who last week was promoted to co-offensive coordinator along with Jeff Scott, will be calling the plays inthe bowl game.
The Tigers’ Russell Athletic Bowl berth against Oklahoma might be viewed as a chance to reunite with an old friend — Orlando.
It will mark the Tigers’ third trip to the bowl and sixth Orlando bowl game overall, but first since the 2005 Champs Sports Bowl.
The Tigers last played Oklahoma in the 1989 Florida Citrus Bowl, also in Orlando, in 1989, with Clemson winning 13-6.
“Clemson has a good history with Orlando,” said Matt Repchak, senior director for marketing and media for Florida Citrus Sports, which conducts both the Russell Athletic and Florida Citrus bowls. “Anytime you’re ableto get a fan base that’s really interested and coming to a city that theyhaven’tbeentoinawhile,it’s a good thing.”
Clemson finished with a 9-3 record and capped its season with a victory against arch-rival South Carolina, which helped make the Tigers a desirable selection.
“It’s rare for a bowl like ours to get a team like Clemson,” Repchak said. “And you don’t always get them in a year when they beat their rival at the end of the season.”
Clemson is ranked 17th in the latest College Football Playoff ranking. Oklahoma is unranked in the CFP, but is No. 24 in the latest Amway coaches poll.
Dabo Swinney has guided Clemson to seven consecutive bowl games.
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