Clemson QB Kelly Bryant Follows McCleskey, Will Redshirt and Transfer

The redshirt rule’s unintended consequences have reared their ugly head going into Week 5 of the college football season.

First it was Jalen McCleskey, OSU’s senior inside receiver, who Gundy announced this week would redshirt and transfer, preserving his year of eligibility for a school of his later choosing. Wednesday, it was a higher-profile name: Kelly Bryant.

The (now-former) Clemson QB, Bryant, told The Greensville News of his decision to transfer, which comes on the heels of Dabo Swinney moving freshman QB Trevor Lawrence into the starting role.

“They asked me how I felt about it,” Bryant said of his meeting with the coaches. “I was like, ‘I’m not discrediting Trevor. He’s doing everything asked of him, but on my side of it, I feel like I haven’t done anything to not be the starter. I’ve been here. I’ve waited my turn. I’ve done everything y’all have asked me to do, plus more.’

“I’ve never been a distraction. I’ve never been in trouble with anything. To me, it was kind of a slap in the face.”

Wondering whether these “play four games, redshirt and transfer” decisions will go down as the “Jalen McCleskey rule” or the “Kelly Bryant rule.” #okstate https://t.co/hfc0yO2RjY

— Nathan Ruiz (@NathanSRuiz) September 26, 2018

Bryant started the last 18 games for the Tigers where he amassed a 16-2 record, but Lawrence, a former five-star talent, won the job. Now Bryant, after playing four games, has chosen to follow in McCleskey’s footsteps by redshirting the remainder of 2018 and playing out his final year of eligibility elsewhere thanks to new NCAA rules that allow for more student-athlete empowerment.

“I feel like it’s what’s best for me and my future,” Bryant said. “I was just going to control what I could control and try to make the most of my opportunity, but at the end of the day, I just don’t feel like I’ve gotten a fair shot.”