Dabo Swinney still sees a bright NFL future ahead of former Clemson star Trevor Lawrence
Dabo Swinney still has high praise for Trevor Lawrence as the former Clemson star prepares for his fifth NFL season. During an appearance on XL Primetime in Jacksonville, Swinney discussed Lawrence's journey, reflecting on the quarterback's success in college and how it compares to the tougher path he's faced with the Jaguars.
Lawrence was once one of the most decorated winners in football — going 52-2 in high school, then 34-2 at Clemson, where he led the Tigers to three College Football Playoff appearances, two national title games, and an ACC Championship every year. Things haven't gone quite as smoothly in the NFL, where he holds a 23-39 record as a starter, including the playoffs.
'He wins. If you know anything about Trevor Lawrence, just go back and look at his career. He's always won. Forever,' Swinney said. 'This guy, what'd he lose, one game in high school maybe, maybe two. And then he comes to Clemson and wins 29 straight and (played in) back-to-back national championship games, three straight playoffs, three straight conference (championship) games. He was second in the Heisman (Trophy voting in 2020). I mean, he's just always won.'
Lawrence's NFL journey has been more complicated. While he earned Pro Bowl honors in 2022 and led the Jaguars to a playoff win over the Chargers that season, he's also had to deal with injuries, inconsistency, and a rebuild around him in Jacksonville. Last year, he appeared in only 10 games and was placed on injured reserve in December after suffering both a concussion and an AC joint sprain in his non-throwing shoulder. He completed 60.6 percent of his passes with 11 touchdowns and seven interceptions before undergoing surgery in mid-December.
'There's been some challenges that he's had to deal with, and part of that's being in the NFL,' Swinney said. 'I mean, how many undefeated teams have there been in the NFL? It's a different deal. And then he's had some injury. He was never a guy that really battled a lot of injuries, and he's had a couple of tough breaks. But he's as tough as they come.'
Despite the setbacks, Lawrence's long-term potential hasn't changed in Swinney's eyes. The Jaguars clearly feel the same, having recently committed to a five-year, $275 million extension. Through his first four seasons, Lawrence has completed 63.3 percent of his passes for 13,815 yards, 69 touchdowns, and 46 interceptions over 60 games.
'He's incredibly smart, incredibly gifted,' Swinney added. 'He's got a long future ahead of him and I'm excited to watch it all play out.'
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