Clemson Tiger fans are expecting big things

One of the most unique position battles to watch when fall camp begins is the quarterback derby at Clemson. Last year the Tigers were a preseason Top 10 team with national title aspirations, but inconsistent quarterback play from Cullen Harper and Willy Korn was a big factor in Clemson finishing 7-6 and costing coach Tommy Bowden his job. This year the Tigers are a pretty sizable long shot at 40/1 on Bodog to win the national championship, and that’s probably in part to the team not knowing who will be under center in 2009. Harper graduated, but Korn, a former top-rated recruit, is back. The sophomore will battle redshirt freshman Kyle Parker and true freshman Tajh Boyd for the starting job. The problem is that all three guys have some blemishes to go with obvious potential. Korn has the benefit of seeing the field in place of a struggling Harper at times in 2008, going 26 of 38 for 216 yards with a TD and an interception. However, he has been a bit injury prone and is coming off December major shoulder surgery that has forced him to rework his throwing motion. Parker has a bigger arm than Korn and looked better in the spring game but is a baseball star who readily admits he couldn’t do all the offseason football work he would have liked because he didn’t have time with his baseball obligations. Boyd, meanwhile, is just six months off ACL reconstruction surgery, which usually takes 8-12 months to fully heal. He is ahead of schedule but probably will redshirt. Coach Dabo Swinney says the open competition will continue right into camp and that he may have to play a couple of guys early in the season before naming a full-time starter. Certainly you can see why all three feel a big sense of urgency to get the job this season being as they all have at least three years of eligibility left. The Tigers have some very nice talent returning and could contend in the ACC and nationally if a quarterback breaks out. All five starters on the offensive line return, as does potential All-American tailback C.J. Spiller, who no doubt will carry a massive load this year. If the Tigers can find the right QB, they can do some major damage. But if the young QBs show their inexperience right away, this team could start 1-4 (early games at Georgia Tech, vs. Boston College, vs. TCU and at Maryland) and face a long year. Get all your football futures at:  Bodog Sportsbook